Walking north on the east side of Las Vegas Blvd, it was a bit surreal to happen upon the newish Las Vegas outpost of Pink’s Hot Dogs. Something like a funhouse mirror of our own local institution, Pink’s LV is basically a door on the front facade of Planet Hollywood. However, there is a nice sized self-seating area, right on the boulevard, welcome on this stretch of busy street.
There is a line to place your order, but it is short, moves fast and–crucially–does not run parallel to the food preparation itself, as it does here on La Brea, denying you that anticipatory glimpse for personal reckoning prior to ordering. How many of our orders have been altered at the last minute (for the better or for the worse) as we peer through the glass as the workers slap that together an order for those ahead of us on that final stretch to the cashier.
After signing on to direct the video for “Open Your Heart,” Gondry went with Todd to scout locations in east Los Angeles. “Basically, L.A. is not made for humans. It’s a lot of concrete and cars passing by. It’s very blank, which is a great background to put all these people with colors.” Next, they cast their stars. “I needed a group of people who could move together, but it would have been too affected if they were professional dancers. We found this marching band from Riverside Community College.” Over three sunny days, Todd and 100 or so marching band members-turned-dancers brought Gondry’s vision to life.
Formed in 1980 in the suburbs of Los Angeles by teenage friends; guitarist Brett Gurewitz, bassist Jay Bentley and singer Greg Graffin, with the additions of Greg Hetson (1984-Present), Brian Baker (1994-Present) and Brooks Wackerman (2001-Present), Bad Religion have become synonymous with intelligent and provocative West Coast punk rock and are considered one of the most influential and important bands in the genre. Over the past 3 decades the band has continually pushed social boundaries and questioned authority and beliefs armed only with propulsive guitars, charging drumbeats, thoughtful lyrics and an undying will to inspire and provoke anyone who will listen.
“The greatest feeling about this anniversary is that it is happening at all,” says Graffin. “I’m mostly uplifted by the fact that a vibrant and evolving punk scene still inspires young people all over the world. If Bad Religion somehow serves as a symbol for the lasting importance of punk, then I am satisfied beyond words by reaching this milestone.”
Finally got around to the Californication season finale over here. This show was never really an immersive watch for me, usually I regarded it with a seemingly appropriate level of ironic detachment. I’ll watch it because nothing else is on, etc. They haven’t done themselves any favors by basically marketing it as low brow T&A fare, which, of course, it can be, but it does have a little bit more going on, now finishing up its third season.
In general, the plot scenarios can feel contrived, the characters drift into cartoony caricatures, the dialogue’s not particularly clever, and the acting by anyone other than Duchovny or Natasha McElhone is hit and miss. I don’t know that any of this improved markedly in this season, but somehow it snuck up on me. I can’t deny I felt something over this crazy Moody family not being able to live happily ever after, so the show must be doing something right. I give it respect for having the balls to close shop for the season on such a downbeat note (if not even close to the downer on which Dexter ended) even if flying in a lingering threat from seasons past is a bit deus ex machina.
Not to damn it with faint praise, but it’s become a far better “L.A. show” than Entourage these days, to make the inevitable (admittedly lazy common) comparison. It might not have the flashy high end brand name-checks and big time celeb cameos that the HBO vehicle does, but there is an overall mood (maybe dominated by Hank’s own ennui) and a tone (frustration, mostly this year) hovering about the show that is tapping in to something distinctly L.A. It’s hard to define, but it’s right there in any of several candlelit dinner party scenes or random Venice daytime exterior scene. It’s also more true to life on an interpersonal level than Entourage–the Hank/Karen relationship alone is as fraught with more recognizably real world difficulty than Vince’s, E’s, Turtle’s, Johnny Drama’s and Lloyd’s love lives combined–if not as accurate in the shiny surface details. Here’s to looking forward to season four.
TomTom collected data from its Tele Atlas business system GPS data to determine what streets were “congested.” In order to qualify a driver has to travel at only 70% or less than the posted speed limits. And while cities like Los Angeles and New York make the top five, it’s actually Seattle, Washington at the top of the pile with 43% of the roads considered congested.
Back in 1997 Anthony Lovett and Matt Maranian wrote and published what eventually became my favorite Los Angeles guidebook. That book’s name was (and is) LA Bizarro. A few years ago on this website I talked to Matt about the original book’s undertaking (fun interview with Matt here). Since that time the two authors have now revised, updated and significantly expanded that original tome, and their collective output was published by Chronicle Books just this fall. In the 2009 updated edition of LA Bizarro (available at the time of this writing and sitting right up there at #2 on the LA Times nonfiction bestseller list this week, no less) they talk about the new, they talk about what was, they elaborate on the “merits” of the Orange County-based Viacom/ Paramount/ Rusty Pelican Restaurants, Inc. international chain Bubba Gump Shrimp Company in sordid detail. (Write San Clemente today to find out how to open your own Bubba Gump!)
Alongside pearls of Los Angeles wisdom and hilarious anecdotes, the 1997 edition of the fabled book offered to the casual reader severe eye strain by way of its off-kilter typesetting and color palette (black-on-green, white-on-black). And, though that incomparable strained-eye feeling was perhaps a part of the appeal of the original volume due to the fact that full passages were on occasion very difficult to read – almost as if the authors didn’t really want to tell you what they were in fact telling you at the time – my aging, internet-scarred eyes are oh-so-thankful for the the cozy, old-fashioned, black-text-on-white-background legibility of the 2009 edition. I’m also thrilled because these guys clearly share our sensibilities, and vice-versa: numerous joints we’ve mentioned over the years here and there on our site also appear in this new book (Norwood Young’s House of Davids and the downtown Piñata District, to name but two); inversely, countless joints that first appeared in the original edition of LA Bizarro eventually showed up on our website a decade later, come to think of it. Guys, let it be known: You have an open invitation to blog, right here to our seven readers, any time you desire. Victor’s setting up your logins; your password is the two-word title of LA Bizarro, page 142, new edition.
Today we chat with both authors – nay, tastemakers – about the book’s recently-released revised edition and Los Angeles in general. In the below conversation, Tony’s answers follow the initials “ARL” (“A” as in Anthony, get it?) and Matt’s answers follow the initials “MM”.
Neither of you live in Los Angeles now (Simi’s close; Vermont may as well be Indonesia) and yet you felt compelled to return, research and release an updated guidebook about Los Angeles. Without repeating the intro to the new book verbatim…why is this?
New 9-minute feature “Oil of L.A.” worth checking out went up on VBS.tv today. Directed by Joseph Patel and hosted by Nate Harrington, and sharply shot and tightly edited, it’s a great quick look at current and former oil wells that are hidden in plain sight right around town, including spots such as Beverly Hills H.S. (who knew?), the Farmer’s Market and the Beverly Center. The film doesn’t really aim to delve into the implications of its findings beyond just acknowledging the wells’ existences, but packs a lot in its 9-minutes–definitely a compelling pitch for some funding to support a longer piece on the subject.
A reduction linocut by artist Dave Lefner. Studio 212, Moulton Ave.
LA is home to the largest art colony in the world. That’s right, the world. It’s one of our city’s best kept secrets. Twice a year, the Brewery Art Association near downtown LA opens its doors to art aficionados, collectors, students, curious onlookers, and those who only wish they could support themselves based solely on creative genius. I fit into those last two categories.
The following photo collection reflects my first experience at the Brewery Artwalk, which took place this past Saturday and Sunday, October 24 & 25. It is in no way a comprehensive representation of the work that was on display (the complex boasts roughly 300 work/live studios). But it’s a taste of an authentic, thriving art scene unique to LA—a must-try for all Angelenos.
Olympic Gold Medalist and ten-time World Champion Fighter Oscar de la Hoya officially cut the ribbon on the Oscar de la Hoya Ánimo Charter High School in Boyle Heights today, the first public high school built in Boyle Heights in 80 years. The school is situated at the location of de la Hoya’s former boxing gym. Big congrats and thanks to Oscar; full press release and more photos by Nicholas Alan Cope after the jump.
A giant drive-thru redwood tree trunk provides a perfect perch for a billboard of one of the most bizarre roadside tourist traps I’ve ever discovered in a slide. Not only does this rural wonder claim to be a park of totem poles (and, who, tell me doesn’t like totem poles,) it’s also an aquarium where you can see “Ocean Wonders ALIVE – Like a Walk on the Floor of the Sea – Just Ahead.” Or in the case of this robin’s egg blue 1949 Plymouth, just behind! Judging by the mossy tree trunk this has to be somewhere in Northern California. Does any remember this memorable place???
Speaking of totem poles, I saw one just the other day. Not the traditional carved-out-of-a-tree-trunk type, oh no. It was a totem pole piñata that reminded me of a third grade art project that inspired me to get creative and make a rather stylish, if I do say so myself, totem pole out of five empty five gallon Baskin Robbins ice cream containers taped one on top of the other. Ultimately it was a paper mache affair complete with cutout cardboard wings and traditional colorful faces rendered in tempera, which I always think of when I occasionally enjoy an order of tempura in an exotic restaurant. But we’re not talking about delicious deep fried Japanese taste treat sensations right now, are we? This is about totem poles and paper mache!
Please pick up this story on your website. Keep the ball rolling. Let us not rest on this day of days until the LA Times ultimately has no choice but to re-post the redesign story itself, thus completing our commentary circle in some crudely beautiful, minuscule-yet-altogether-infinitesimal fashion. The logged-in user at the time of the above already-published LAist screen shot capture, one “Margot.Roosevelt@”, will no doubt be forever indebted as well. Instructions: (1) Capture this browser screen and prep for your blog of choice. (2) Your headline might read something like “Losanjealous Nods @ LAist Nod @ La Times Online Redesign”. (3) Provide instructions if need be, and get some other blog to pick up your story accordingly (you are on your own here). Look, dammit, this should be easy. I’ve even captured the next screenshot for you already – downloadable right here, 576px wide, 72dpi. Size to fit, post before noon. Don’t forget your end-of-article attribution links for our joint end-of-day paper trail! Thank you in advance; see you over at the Times website around 6pm. First round’s on me.
Pssst! Huell Howser and documentary film fans alike: Harry Pallenberg, doc filmmaker and segment producer for California’s Gold (13 years working with Huell, over 800 shows in various series) is guest blogging this month over KCET way. Thus far he’s delivered two solid entries and for the rest of the month, he will be discussing Los Angeles and serializing his documentary SHOTGUN FREEWAY: Drives Thru Lost L.A. Snippet:
The living-room of our apartment was covered in tapes and archival films that we’d begged, borrowed, and (depending on the statute of limitations) stolen. In classic DIY fashion, we did whatever we needed to do to get it done. At one point we were editing SHOTGUN FREEWAY from 10PM to morning on the Northern Exposure series Avid system, which was fun until I re-calibrated the monitors one night. For another long stretch we found ourselves hand cleaning 100’s of hours of old films that the LAPD Historical Society had discovered in a back jail cell…
Go check it out and do pose your questions and comments directly to Harry in the comment section, should you get the chance.
Attention drivers! Parking at The Getty will soon be free, provided you are not there to casually browse art during daylight hours. Art lovers, pony up:
GETTY ANNOUNCES NEW PARKING FEES
Parking fees increase to $15; parking is free for Saturday nights at the Getty Center and evening events at both sites
LOS ANGELES-The J. Paul Getty Trust today announced parking rates at both the Getty Center and Getty Villa will increase to $15 effective July 1, but parking at both sites will be free for evening programs after 5pm. Admission remains free.
Note: This is the second of two galleries (first gallery here) focusing on George Harrison’s Walk of Fame star ceremony outside Capitol Records, April 14, 2009. Full gallery and writeup after the jump.
As previously mentioned, former Beatle George Harrison (1943-2001) was honored with a posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame outside Capitol Records, shortly before noon today. George is now the second Beatle to receive an individual star following John Lennon. He succombed to cancer near the end of 2001 at Paul McCartney’s house, right here in Los Angeles. Surviving wife, Olivia, and son, Dhani, accepted today’s honorary award on behalf of George.
IN THIS GALLERY: Hollywood Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Leron Gubler, Olivia Harrison, Dhani Harrison, Eric Idle, Paul McCartney, Los Angeles City Councilman Tom LaBonge, Jeff Lynne, Tom Hanks, Nancy Shevell.
Still to come: Tom Petty, the unveiling of the actual star, the footwear of your other favorite Beatle, full-on Beatlemania returns to Capitol, extensive event write-up and much more. Stick around.
UPDATE, 4/15: Full writeup now online.
ABOVE: Former Beatle Sir James Paul McCartney cleans George Harrison’s star on the sidewalk outside Capitol Records at noon, April 14, 2009, while Harrison’s wife Olivia and Dhani Harrison look on. On hand at the touching ceremony: Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, Sir Paul (pictured), Joe Walsh, Toms Hanks and LaBonge, Eric Idle and many, many more. Full gallery and exclusive writeup en route; this is just to tide you over while I’m editing photos. Enjoy!
Back in 1997 Anthony Lovett and Matt Maranian wrote and published what eventually became my favorite Los Angeles guidebook. That book’s name was (and is) LA Bizarro. A few years ago on this website I talked to Matt about the original book’s undertaking (
2009 edition. I’m also thrilled because these guys clearly share our sensibilities, and vice-versa: numerous joints we’ve mentioned over the years here and there on our site also appear in this new book (Norwood Young’s House of Davids and the downtown Piñata District, to name but two); inversely, countless joints that first appeared in the original edition of LA Bizarro eventually showed up on our website a decade later, come to think of it. Guys, let it be known: You have an open invitation to blog, right here to our seven readers, any time you desire. Victor’s setting up your logins; your password is the two-word title of LA Bizarro, page 142, new edition.
Pssst! Huell Howser and documentary film fans alike: Harry Pallenberg, doc filmmaker and segment producer for 
Fun new project over at 
