PHOTO: Reader Mike shares this from his Runyon hike this morning. Caption reads “Beauty Is Just A Slice Away.” Anyone know the story on it?

Came across these blurry snapshots slipped in a LP sleeve the other day. The much-missed Lush signing records upon the release of Spooky, at the much-missed Aron’s Records on Highland Avenue, 1992. Pre-Internet, pre-MP3, pre-digital cameras, pre-everything. With in a couple of days of finding these, heard both Jason Bentley and KEXP spin some Lush. Glad to see they’re still popping up now and then.

One more blurry shot below.

»continue reading Photo Flashback: Lush Record Signing at Aron’s Records, 1992

Lomography Gallery Store LA | 7998 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood
lomography.com

Full details on the opening night party tonight, Thursday, Feb. 18, as well as their full schedule of upcoming events over the next week, are at thelomographer.com, but here are the essentials:

»continue reading Los Angeles Lomography Gallery Store and Embassy Opens Tonight

Out on Wilshire Blvd., Mon. Feb. 15, little after 2 p.m.

Sunlight from a gorgeous 72-degree day filters through the windows of King’s Head pub in Santa Monica, around 2 p.m. today. Manchester City vs. Stoke football on one telly, snowboard cross Olympic qualifying on the others. (Go Graham Watanabe!)

I did actually get out in the sunshine a bit after getting a pint (Black & Tan) in me. Nokia E71 phone shot of the pier from the Ocean Ave. bluff below.

»continue reading Postcard for the East Coast: President’s Day in Santa Monica

I don’t know exactly why, but this mostly unremarkable snap by NYC-based film & movie biz writing bad ass Jeffrey Wells–a daily stop on the web, out here on the Left Coast for the Santa Barbara Film Fest–seems to tap into a certain mid-week evening Farmer’s Market feel that floats in under that low roof now and again. Not quite melancholy or ennui, but just a certain everyday blah, away from the karaoke and the happy hours, under unflattering fluorescent lights, unglamorous real people, trudging in for groceries and trudging back home.

Reuters goes for a clever pun that also points out a painful truth in their headline, Ringo Starr gets his Hollywood star at low-wattage ceremony (ouch!):

»continue reading Ringo Starr Finally Gets His Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

»continue reading Dodger Caravan Today–Meet Fernando Valenzuela, Matt Kemp, some others at Roscoe’s, Culver City Best Buy and/or Olvera Street

Seriously, what the F is UP with this creepy bearded guy showing up in my web ads? No one else is pulling them up around here. What is it about my particular web habits? Apparently this brewing mystery is a hot topic:
The Mystery of Bearded Harold [Outlaw Vern]
Get to know that creepy bearded guy from those Web ads [Bluffton Today]

If you have additional info about the creepy bearded guy or if in fact you are the creepy bearded guy in question, please drop us a note.

Rock band Vampire Weekend leads U.S. album chart [Reuters]

Vampire Weekend’s second album “Contra” sold 124,000 copies during its first week on sale, according to Nielsen SoundScan data for the week ended January 17.

The quartet’s self-titled first album debuted and peaked at No. 17 on the Billboard 200 in 2008 after selling 28,000 copies; its tally now stands at 498,000.

“Contra” was the lone debut in the top 10, as the second-highest entry came from rapper Omarion’s “Ollusion” at No. 19 with 19,000 copies. This isn’t out of the ordinary for January, as the month’s release schedule is usually light on blockbuster new albums.

»continue reading We Did It! Vampire Weekend Reaches #1 on Billboard Chart

ELVIS AT 21: PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALFRED WERTHEIMER

In 1956, photojournalist Alfred Wertheimer was hired by RCA Victor to shoot promotional images of a recently signed 21-year-old recording artist (Presley), and his instincts to “tag along” with the artist after the assignment resulted in 56 striking images that provide an intimate look at Elvis before he exploded onto the scene and became one of the most exciting performers of all time. The exhibit will run through March 28, 2010.

»continue reading “Elvis at 21″ Photo Exhibit Opens at GRAMMY Museum

SETTING
Piggie’s Charbroiled
4601 W Rosecrans Ave
Hawthorne, CA

SOUNDTRACK
Flaming Lips
Oh My Gawd!!!…The Flaming Lips
6 Jan 1987 (Restless)

LOCAL TIME
1pm PST
29 December 2009

Sun streams harshly through the window here in Hawthorne, right onto the table, right onto the plate before me. $4.19 for the “large” because, yeah, I’m feeling In Charge. Take seat next to corner booth inhabited by three of Hawthorne’s Finest: One on duty with talkie dialed low, two off-duty in Sunday civvies. All three grousing about the job and casting the occasional wary eye my way. I’m just eating chili fries, boys; rest assured I bitch about my job just as much as you, end of day. One Decade!!! A full decade in Los Angeles. How in the hell have I pulled it off, exactly? How have I survived!? Why did I stay!? What kept me!? How Have I Changed Los Angeles For The Better, and, How Has She Changed Me? Sunlight streams onto the plate harshly still and I ponder various chili-coated plates that have confronted me over the course of the last decade, here in smog central. This one’s harmless when stacked ‘gainst the past, to be sure; still, no easy lunch, this. I throw down the fork, douse the pepper’s heat with a swig of ice water and hit the sidewalk. Inhaling, it hits me like a flash of lightning: It is good to be here, Los Angeles right now on this 29th of December 2009 Anno Domini. I gulp the air, form fists triumphantly and shout to no-one, “Oh My Gawd!!!”

Spotted in Westwood…

»continue reading Dickchicken NYC Reign of Terror Spreads to Westside

»continue reading Nice Used Vinyl Copy of Taco’s After Eight Available at Backside Records, Burbank

Who Loves Ya Sugar!

This Has Been
A Photograph of the Sugar Bowl at King’s Road Cafe (8361 Beverly)

SEE ALSO IN IMPRESSIVELY-STACKED HEALTH DETRIMENTS:
» Photo Op: Sitton’s Butter, NoHo

For some strange reason, I get a lot of Las Vegas related e-mail. I mean, like, a lot. Could have something to do with the fact I’m there just about monthly, but who knows. This offer that hit my in-box was too good to not pass on to all of you–Have your photo taken with the Lakers 2009 Championship Trophy, today through Sunday at The Mirage just $299.

Or, if $299 and a drive to Vegas is too steep for you, e-mail us a photo and we will Photoshop the trophy in your hands for only $199–a savings of $100 plus the cost of going to Vegas.

Full trophy time and location details if you insist on going to Vegas below.

»continue reading Take Your Photo with the Lakers Trophy in Vegas, $299; Losanjealous Photoshop Job, $199

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