R. Mutt & Urinals: Tributes to Marcel Duchamp

The people from Thwart Design are challenging you to answer the question "what is art?" Give them your address and you too will receive your very own vinyl "R. Mutt" sticker that you can place on a urinal or something of your choice. They only ask that you record the event with your digi camera and send them the photo. If you're unable to answer "what is art?" after your sticky experiment, perhaps you've at least crossed off that "vandalize a urinal" from your bucket list.

Get your sticker here: R. Mutt Sticker

Beck, Spoon and MGMT @ Hollywood Bowl

I'm fully aware how redundant my posts about the Hollywood Bowl are becoming, but this will conclude the 2008 Bowl season. At least it was a fantastic way to end the summer.

We all gathered at Mike's house. Smells of beer, caramelized onions, and carne asada were drifting around as maybe 30 people mingled with excitement for the show later.

When crowds of v-necks, skinny pants, and Toms shoes began to crawl up Highland, we gathered our things (mostly sweaters and beer) and began our trek. Eva, Tim, Mike and I sat in seats that seemed normal until we realized we had a perfect view of the Hollywood sign right above the stage. We got there and enjoyed MGMT first. We couldn't resist their dance songs. I was slightly more enthusiastic about their music than they were. It might've been the Tecate, but they weren't really in the best time slot. And too bad they didn't look like the tribes people in their videos.

The sun finally went down, and Spoon came on stage. They played the songs just as we liked and remembered them. Their horn section was particularly enjoyable. This was the time to break open our snacks and remind eachother how much we loved each song. Sappy a little. Wine helped. By this time we've noticed that Bute hasn't sat down yet and remains punching the air with both fists in the middle of the aisle, disobeying the fire code entirely.

After a brief intermission, Beck opened...with LOSER. The audience was in disbelief and it was a perfectly cool beginning for him as he played song after enjoyable song. I have to confess that I am not the biggest Beck fan, but his set was really enjoyable. His decade of his catchy hit songs kept us dancing all the way through. A pleasant surprise was the accompaniment of the LA Philharmonic string section conducted by none other than his father, David Campbell. As the encore began, Bute finally sat down with us complaining that the security wasn't letting him dance. At the conclusion of the show, most people funnel out like cattle: slow and brainless. Thanks to their quick wit, Eva and Bute expedited our departure by screaming they had diarrhea. The crowds parted willingly.

We all walked back happily. Since we'd missed the Al Green show that went on at the same time, Eva and I danced to his album in the living room.

Who is You? #6

You made my day.

You= Bear sitting at a picnic table (from Moose Droppings )

Who is You? #5

You are my favorite of all time and I'll never be willing to share. There's just no one like you in LA.


You = Milk tea with tapioca from J&S Coffee and Tea House in Richmond, CA

Hollywood Weirdness: Mysterious Building Art

This camera viewframe has been placed on several buildings in Hollywood. I get the idea. Hollywood's constantly in front of a camera, but really these look like targets for large weapons. It's disturbing. As Nathan would critique, "FAIL!"

Hollywood Wilderness: Runyan Canyon

Mike was surprised that I wasn't leaving my apartment until the sun went down. My "art/write" hat just doesn't really tell me to go outside. Feeling slightly offended, I decided to prove him wrong and take advantage of Los Angeles' most valuable asset: sunshine.

I forced myself to get up earlier than my biological clock enjoys, nearly making me a stunt writer. I took a small walk/hike to Runyan Canyon. It is about half a mile from my apartment and there were plenty of beautiful locals with white headphones walking along with me.

Once you enter the gates, you've stepped outside of Hollywood and into a national park. The silence and shade bring a little serenity into my traffic stricken tourist trap neighborhood. There's a grassy knoll where some people meditate, plenty of happy dogs, and miles of trail to take on. In just 30 minutes, I'd reached one of the peaks. (where the picture above was taken)There I sat and admired the smoggy view. Reminded me why all the movie stars and affluent Angelenos tuck away into the Hollywood Hills: they're wonderful!

I walked home happily and somewhat victorious.

Seen at Selma Ave and Vine St.

Don't know what it's there for, but I really enjoyed walking by it.

Corporate sub-culture

Sometimes I wish my name was a verb.

"I might Kanye your iPhone if you don't stop singing your Gregorian chants about Conan O'Brien!"

I would love my name to be something nice like reading to the elderly, or when someone rescues a kitten. I'd have to be careful not to become like that guy Munson from Kingpin.

The Fratellis with Airborne Toxic Event

Mike once again scored a deal on tickets. So we hopped on the Metro to the Wiltern to see some familiar faces. It was fun! Good show! High five, fellas!

Weather Report for Today, 9/17/08

Very sunny and warm.


For lunch: grilled cheese and apple sandwich with hummus

Movie Review: Burn After Reading

Burn After Reading
dir. Ethan and Joel Coen
comedy, 96 mins

The Coen brothers have proven to us, once again, that they're more than capable to wow audiences. It almost seems too easy for them. With their Academy Award wins just beginning to fade into memory, they return into the current with Burn After Reading, a crime comedy, that blends their comedic timing with their talent for action directing. Coupled with a brilliant ensemble cast including George Clooney, Frances McDormand, John Malkovich and Brad Pitt, the Coens have cemented their knack for dark comedy.

I'm reluctant to spoil the movie for those who haven't seen it. The strengths lie in the way the story presents information and the use of the information. This is the reason why I love the Coen vehicle: their ability to surprise when they need you to be surprised, not to mention allowing you to laugh. They know that filmmaking isn't about making spectacles, but rather about communicating stories. This story was fresh and new, but with classic Coen wit.

In writing this, it's very difficult to not use the word "another." Another great movie. Another great script. Another witty comedy. In terms of Coen Bros films, it was just another movie. Big Lebowski meets Fargo. It must be nice for the Coens to have great filmmaking as their redundancy. To the Coens, I say, please keep making movies.

Weather Report for Today, 9/15/08

It's cool enough to fool myself into wearing a sweater out, but not warm enough to wear shorts.


For lunch: pasta and Capn Crunch

Poor Examples of Humanity: Choque Cultural Gallery in Sao Paulo, Brazil

It saddened me to find out that the Choque Cultural Gallery in Sao Paulo had been vandalized in political protest last week. 30 spraycan wielding Pixadores stormed through the gallery in defiance of "marketing, institutionalization, and domestication of Street Art." They ruined and damaged the artwork by several artists.

Despite how passionate as these 30 Pixadores were in conserving the sanctity of Street Art, it's utterly heartbreaking that these "artists" were destroying art for the sake of art. There are more creative and stronger ways of communicating this concern. This act of vandalism was a tragic step backwards for street art and deserves no pride.

From The Wooster Collective

Far Out: Brian Wilson @ the Hollywood Bowl

Upon our return to MIke's house, we were greeted by his smiley neighbor and fellow cyclist, Ian, who lives rent-free as the caretaker of Frank Lloyd Wright's Freeman House. He had a spare ticket to the Brian Wilson show later that evening. We were in!

Along with Ian and friends, Mike packed a bottle of wine and sandwiches and off to the Bowl, once again. We had amazingly great views from a central and high point in the amphitheater. The night began with the LA Philharmonic playing Gershwin, Brian Wilson's favorite American composer according to the conductor. But shortly after, Brian Wilson and his band begin playing Beach Boy with the LA Phil including "God Only Knows" dedicated to the those whose lives were lost in the recent Chatsworth Train Crash. He was entirely lovable and entertaining shouting out "Rock and Roll!" to even "Brian Wilson!" after a song. Three songs in, however, we were given an intermission. Mysterious.

When he returned for good, he played plenty of psychedelic arrangements of classic Beach Boys, a couple Chuck Berry covers (incl. Johnny B Goode) along with newer work from his solo albums. I sat dancing in my seat until I just couldn't hold it back anymore. (Especially when he played Do You Wanna Dance?) His band was huge but each member was consistently beyond enthusiastic for each and every song. One of the drummers eventually became shirtless hitting symbols with two tambourines. The fireworks finale was quite exciting with the band playing Surfin USA to accompany. They had a pyro- tiny surfwagon with a surfboard on top to go with the beachy theme. This concert was the perfect way to celebrate the end of summer, even if it never ends in Southern California.

Fat Out: 2008 Taste of Santa Monica

Yesterday, chefs from 40 local eateries gathered at the Santa Monica Pier to sample their best dishes to curious foodies at the 2008 Taste of Santa Monica. It's not as gigantic as its sister event in Chicago or New York, but earns Santa Monica itself a "cute" description as the locals lined up, paid $45, pushed and shoved, to gather teaspoons full of culture.

Mike and I decided to go. (Grace couldn't fight the urge to eat lunch. She apologized.) It was a good opportunity to check out local eateries. While some of the city's most beloved restaurants were not involved (Ivy on the Shore), it was an eclectic mix that ranged from hotel restaurants like Whilst @ The Viceroy to chains like Il Fornaio and Hooters.

My favorites included the samples from seared albacore from Ma'Kai (asian fusion), gelato from Angelato Cafe, iced pear green tea from Evergreen Tea House. Interesting tastes included mascarpone "dry" ice cream from the featured molecular ice cream lab, the shishito peppers from Tengu and the spicy tuna-avocado- Dorito concoction from Wokano. Our strategy was to try to eat as much as possible in hopes of getting our money's worth, which I paid for dearly as I rolled out of the taste feeling more like Humpty Dumpty.

You can see the official website here: 2008 Taste of Santa Monica

Style on Style: Eva

She's my BFF with a fashion taste for the anti-vanilla. Eva has combined her Bohemian eye for layers along with her amazing skills as a seamstress to create an artsy utilitarian girl-next-door style all her own. From the tiniest skirts with high leather boots to plunging thermal necklines and Chucks, her style is both practical and risque like her gemini self. Eva's love and appreciation for organic living and wellness (she's brewing her own Kombucha!) also lend to a comfortable choice in her everyday clothing: high socks, jersey tunics, soft leathers, not to mention gauged bone earrings and perfectly disheveled hair. What makes Eva's look so striking is that she rips and mangles pieces to make them her more her style. (One of my favorite Eva pieces is a torn off hood from a sweatshirt that she wears by itself.) Eva is indeed, the coziest and coolest Boho trendsetter on the block!

From Eva:

My style in 3 words: Fun, girly, utiilitarian

Favorite things to wear: tall boots, short skirts, old jackets, scarves, legwarmers

Style influences: post-apocalyptic costume, dance costumes, Victorian era

Newsflash: LA is unfriendly and terrible

So my fellow Angelenos, we've done it this time. Thanks to all of our taunting of less fashionable tourists, over the top cellphone use, and Botox'd expressionless faces, America has rated us as the nation's least friendly, worst traffic, least intelligent city in Travel + Leisure's America's Favorite Cities survey.

Over 600,000 tourists surveyed various cities in the US to rank which cities they loved and which they hated in different categories: culture, people, quality of lifestyle, etc. And we just really left a terrible impression on those tourists. This is funny to me, and I'm not trying to be a defensive Angeleno, because tourists LOVE the ILLUSION we make out here. They are attracted to the rockstars and the skinny rich girls and the hot cars and palm trees they see on TV, but not the actual city? The harsh reality that our city is indeed a dirty lifesized movie set has sunk in.

One true thing is that Los Angeles is a HUGE multi-faceted city with PLENTY of dynamic people. There are pockets of us who embrace art and actually read books and newspapers along with those who don't. Believe it or not, but most of us are from friendlier cities and will probably give you directions if you're lost. We have certain advantages like our resources and overall hopefulness (remember, "city of dreams" cliché?), but our biggest strength is that we're definitely not boring (that's why you have Entourage and the Hills on Tivo). Sure there's plenty of traffic and big city trash that makes us grumpy, but nobody's perfect. We'll see you all later when you want to become a pop icon!

This is weird: Jada Pinkett's Smith's nu-metal band, Wicked Wisdom

Another side of Jada Pinkett Smith that I never knew. Good for her. She's so tough!

Dreamy House in Iporanga, Brazil

Architect: Arthur Casas
Location: Iporanga, Brazil

For more photos: Arthur Casas

From Kanye West's Universe City