This past Saturday was my first time venturing into The Echo’s ominous downstairs space, The EXPLX. I must say, despite its massive space and zero level of light, it’s quite cozy. I especially like the high stage, which makes for good viewing wherever you are in the club.

I arrived just as Southern rockers Snowden began their set. By the number of SLRs clicking away in the front row, it was evident that every single blogger in Los Angeles was at this show. Snowden was frantically energetic and a pleasure to experience live, especially for that one guy in the front twitching around in an awkward attempt at dancing. Got to give him credit for at least moving, not just standing there with arms folded, eyes closed and head down in the universal hipster stance denoting he was “feeling” the music.
»continue reading Malajube @ The EXPLX, 3/3/07

Safe to say I’m pretty much done with Big Bear after last year’s Blizzardball Run. This year I got the Tahoe fix in early January, and I jumped at the chance to hit Mammoth Mountain last weekend when invited up by the site’s board of directors. At 55 years of age I’m still a lively one on the snow. Yeah, I said it. The above photo was taken last Saturday around 1pm at Mammoth; specifically, the firepit @ Mill Cafe following a particularly sturdy bloody mary.

Bonus photos: A great heffalump guards drop-off zone; La Verne tears up the mountain

El Chato is the name of the taco truck brought to you by the men who brought you El Pecas #2. The–get ready for alliteration, okay … 1, 2, 3 – let’s do it—flavorful fare remains the same, but the truck is new.

I had a long, rich history with El Pecas #2. My roommates and I hired the guys from the El Pecas truck to cater a summer block party we threw for our cozy Longwood Highlands neighborhood. I will never forget running down Citrus Avenue in 90 degree heat with a gas canister in my hand, because the truck’s portable generator had run out of gasoline. If there were to be more lengua tacos, then I needed to hurry. About 10 minutes and a vintage t-shirt soaked in gasoline later, 100 of my closest friends enjoyed delicious tacos again.
»continue reading El Chato, Son of El Pecas #2

»continue reading Midlake @ Troubadour, 3/3/07

PICK OF THE WEEK

Tim and Eric @ Echo
As part of a promotional “tour” to disseminate awareness of their brilliantly bizarre [bizarrely brilliant--Ed.] new Adult Swim show, Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Tim (and Eric) will be appearing and doing something at The Echo. It will be funny and likely disturbing. Our Favorite Funny Man (and bartender) Neil Hamburger, opens the evening.

SEBADOH
Original line-up reunited
Spaceland
Saturday
March 10
[ENTER TO WIN]

Tell us why you want to go and include your full name.

Heavens @ Troubadour Fri 3/23
Heavens w/ Boom Bip @ El Rey Sun 3/25
Man Man @ The Roxy Thu 4/5
Ben Gibbard w/ David Bazan @ Royce Hall Thu 5/17
Pretty Girls Make Graves @ Glass House Sat 6/2

»continue reading Losanjealous Concert Picks: March 5 – 10

Camellia Festival, Temple City, 1958

A young Camellia Queen-with-attitude is perched on her gold foil-wrapped throne centered on a pull cart glorified with camellias. She and her lavender clad court of one are just sitting there. The parade has come to a halt. The royal pull cart is powered by a trio of bobby socked brownies standing side by side in near military precision. Their fearless Girl Scout leader-chaperone is uniformed with a regulation hat and white buttoned up and bow tied blouse over a smart straight skirt. Her double strapped, chunk heeled, open-toed sling backs with side vents stand out quite nicely against asphalt. She doesn’t know it but her slip is showing. The sparse crowd of sidewalk sitters looks onward.
»continue reading Charles Phoenix’s Slide of the Week: Camellia Festival, Temple City, 1958

Vine and Banner streets, Hollywood

The Losanjealous Benevolent Society gathers a weekly list of strange happenings and fun events in LA–the more ridiculous, the better. Visit our events calendar for the full list. And if you’re organizing or know of an event you think belongs on the list, send us info at tips@losanjealous.com.

FRIDAY

Everything But the Kitschen Sync @ La Luz de Jesus
Now in its tenth year, this enormous exhibition will feature work from some of the most relevant artists working today.

Fifty Years of Janus Films @ LACMA
A month-long run of choice selections from the esteemed Janus art house catalog. Rare 35mm screenings of classics, including Rashômon, The 400 Blows, L’Avventura, The Rules of the Game, and many more. Double bills each Friday and Saturday from 3/2-4/7, beginning at 7:30 pm. Leo S. Bing Theater at LACMA.

SATURDAY

ASSSCAT @ Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre
The Upright Citizens Brigade are taping their improv show ASSSCAT on March 3rd and 4th for a forthcoming DVD. The show will include Amy Poehler, Matt Besser, Ian Roberts, Matt Walsh, Horatio Sanz, Chad Carter, Sean Conroy and Andrew Daly. The Sunday, March 4 9:30pm show is FREE but reservations are not accepted. Through Sun 3/4.

»continue reading Losanjealous Benevolent Society Events: March 2 – 8

The Elephant Theatre sits on the eastern edge of Theater Row, an area bordered by the pompous beauty of West Hollywood and the unreconstructed grit of Hollywood proper. It’s a nasty, dirty part of town, one that gives that peculiar feel of guilt, horror and a strong desire for another $12 cocktail at a too-hip-to-have-a-name bar.

And it’s perfect.

“In Arabia We’d All Be Kings” is set in Hell’s Kitchen, a part of Manhattan noted for its honesty in advertising. Or, so it used to be. During the late 1990s, the ‘Kitchen closed, slowly morphing into hipster land, sporting high-end restaurants and no-name bars similar to the ones three blocks north of the Elephant.

The play itself takes place in a bar, and the characters themselves are like moving pieces of the beautifully designed set. They serve as archetypes of the neighborhood that was: the parolee, the whore, the druggie, the old drunk, a sycophantic bartender, opportunistic investors and a teenager with a hair-trigger.

The plot is loose, roughly revolving an imminent sale of the bar and its affect on the characters. Though clearly about gentrification, the play raises questions it does not intend to answer. Does the closing of the bar makes the characters lives better or worse? Is Hell’s Kitchen worth saving?

The plot, such that it is, clearly takes a back seat to the portraits of the characters, presented as a series of well-told vignettes. This is where the play shines. The acting and directing are fluid, the characters vibrant and real. During one particularly poignant part of the play, a woman behind me broke out into loud sobs. I had a lump in my throat myself.

In Arabia We’d All Be Kings
Elephant Theatre
6322 Santa Monica Blvd.
Friday, Saturday, Sunday 8 p.m., through March 17
Tickets and information

Name: Izhik Kadi Finase
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Brown
Height: 5’11″
Weight: 160 pounds
Date of Birth: Nov 10, 1970
Wanted For: Forgery

Suspect obtained two counterfeit checks totaling $47,800. Suspect opened a bank account at Glendale Federal Bank, deposited the checks and then began withdrawing funds from various ATM machines. Suspect obtained $3,869 prior to the bank discovering the checks were counterfeit.

Suspect then made beeline to Venice Beach and actually bought one of those 10 for $3 “I’m the Boss” t-shirts with the angry, tilted newsboy hat-wearing cartoon duck.

More info from the LAPD