This past Halloween, thousands of Angelenos gathered at the beautiful Legendary Park Plaza near MacArthur Park for KCRW’s Masquerade: A Halloween Costume Ball & Dance Party.  With one look at the massive two-story venue (several large wings and two outdoor areas for lounging and dining at some of LA’s premier food trucks), the set list (DJ Shadow, Sea Wolf, Little Dragon, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, various KCRW DJs) and the full costume participation of the guests, we knew this was going to be a stellar night. 

»continue reading KCRW’s Masquerade: A Halloween Costume Ball & Dance Party, October 31, 2009

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.

»continue reading Brewery Artwalk Autumn ‘09: A Free Pass To LA’s Creative Common

»continue reading And Now, A Photo Of A Man Getting A Tattoo Aboard The Queen Mary

Beverly @ Stanley 4/8/09

Times are so tough even Sign Bandit is strapped for cash. Won’t you give a Wolverine’s Daughter comic book-owning, gigantic ass-loving Michael-Jackson-alike some dough today? He likes Marley, yo.

PREVIOUSLY IN CRIES FOR HELP AND ATTENTION
» That Goofball With The Hand-Lettered Melrose Signs Is At It Again
» For Sale on Melrose: Wolverine’s Daughter, 2 Books, Taco Bell, Thundercats, Movies, Money…My Heart

Jeannette and I were prowling around Wednesday eve and we stumbled upon this gigantic, fantastic, (insert adjective here) wall on Melrose about a block east of Fairfax. Anybody following Neckface’s work in LA knows that he tends to favor the Fairfax and Melrose corridors for whatever reason (proximity to New Image? He’s had some shows there). Anyhow, check it out while it lasts; typically that wall is reserved for back catalog reissues, shoe adverts and/or something similarly ignorable. (Photo by Jeannette)

» Bored? Jeannette’s Flickr Stream Never Fails To Entertain In Some Capacity

This time Antonio is really going for it. Note perimeter faces in partial awe, as if saying, “¡Oye! Can that mayor throw down a beat!”

»continue reading 64th Annual Northeast Los Angeles Holiday Parade, 12/7/08, Highland Park

Full gallery forthcoming

GEOGRAPHIC DIRECTIVE / MISSION-CRITICAL ADVICE
Purchase said piñata in piñata district loosely centered around Olympic and Central. Do not get sidetracked by fresh fruit, nuts, chapulines, unappetizingly-piled meters of donglike chorizo or, worst of all, the ever-popular taco truck cleverly buried within the piñata stalls

BUDGET
$12
»continue reading An Afternoon At The Piñata District

I do not know when the Centaur first arrived in Venice Beach. I do know that He is there now, and He is on the rooftop. To be sure, we’ve a not inconsiderable number of large-scale additions newly assembled and clamoring for the unsuspecting pedestrian’s eyeball atop El Bordello Alexandra. Witness: an additional fleet of gargoyles (now with more evil!); a ridiculous-looking Neptune with a merman’s body, trident and two chained beasts approximating dolphins; a pair of uncomfortably large devils threatening to encroach on the neighbor’s roof, a few scattered knights-in-armor…they are all so much noise, for the life-sized*, heavily-armed, Son-of-God-faced and abs-of-bronze inclusive Centaur is the clearcut breadwinner, and at this point it is evident the owner is now merely trying to one-up himself, having laid to waste all external competition long ago. A daunting task, but I feel confident in saying the body of work at 20 Westminster is far from finished.

Your Centaur closeup after the jump. (Four arrows!)
»continue reading El Bordello Alexandra Now Has A Centaur