I’m super stoked about their show tonight at the Fonda but I only had one pair of tickets to give away in my last post. Because I really want more people to win, I begged Goldenvoice for more tickets and they kindly obliged! Thank you Goldenvoice, I owe you my first-born.

So, new Calexico contest! Ready?

If you could pick a Calexico song to pair with a movie (because so many of their songs are very cinematic and soundtrack-y), what song & movie would you pair? If you can’t think of a movie and aren’t a film buff, you can instead tell me a particular stretch of highway that would suit a particular song.

The LA Times wrote up the show tonight here.

One grand prize winner also gets their latest CD, Carried To Dust. woot!

The Dual Airport 16 Mile Training Walk

Today I walked 16 miles in anticipation of the Big Day, October 18, when a rag tag bunch of bloggers (and friends of bloggers) will be cruising down Western Ave. using only our feet. I’m really looking forward to it.

Well, I’ll be completely honest and say that somewhere around miles 12-14 today I was actually thinking, “f*** this sh**!” and considered hailing a cab or catching a bus. But I persisted, my ipod full of great podcasts to keep me entertained and family on the phone to chat with while putting one foot in front of the other.

As always when walking, there is much to see that you probably would miss from your car. Photos of a few of those things after the jump as well as a mystery that I need help solving about one of the things I saw.

Read the rest of this entry →

This Saturday, October 4th kicks off the Detour Festival downtown.  The line-up is great, The Mars Volta, The Submarines, Shiny Toy Guns, Gogol Bordello, and lots of super groovy DJ’s including Adam Freeland and The Bloody Beetroots.

I went to a cool concert downtown last March at City Hall, where this is taking place and it really rocked.  But this should be even better… four stages, so there’s something for everyone!  Truly Awesome.

We are giving away two pairs of tickets… and the grand prize also gets a free CD of Gogol Bordello.

If you want to win tickets, check out the line-up and tell us who your favorite artist is and why you want the tickets.  Two most impressive, win two tickets each!  Super simple…. but make sure you use your real email address on signing in if you want to get the tickets.

Whoo-hoo!

I used to think of Washington Mutual as the Trader Joes of banking. It seemed to be the alternative place where Angelenos would bank that didn’t suck you dry by charging for checks and account fees, and the staff was always nice. Unfortunately, it turned out that after getting that first overdraft fee waived, WaMu was just more like a new Ralphs, but no different than any other grocery store. Or bank. (I’m writing this while I’m hungry, so please forgive me).

Anyway, this really has nothing to do with the big news this week that Washington Mutual became the largest bank failure ever, as they were so nice they gave out way too many loans too easily, and people weren’t paying them back. As a result, the bank was pretty much going bankrupt, so the government swooped in, and sold WaMu to JP Morgan Chase, whose name will soon begin appearing on your banking statements, your checks and debit cards, and the bank itself.

Or something like that. Seriously, I’m mostly thinking about getting some food. Have a snack with me, then make the jump for more details… Read the rest of this entry →

CNN reported he was 83 and died of cancer. I haven’t even looked much further for specifics because it’s just sad. My impression of the man was that he was a good human being, full of integrity and loyalty and passion. And a pretty good actor too.  I am sorry to see that light extinguished.

Open to all bloggers, blog readers, commenters, tormentors and (even trolls) in LA

It’s back!  The Pasadena Bloggers Picnic – once again organized by yours truly and the role model of children everywhere (his words, not mine), Aaron Proctor!

The gathering is held once again at the Mayan Room and Courtyard/Patio of the Aztec Hotel in beautiful Monrovia, California.  Potluck style, just the same as last time.  Bring a little something to share at the potluck table.  Good old fashioned bar drinks will be available for purchase at the Brass Elephant that is in the hotel.  There is ample free parking at the hotel.

Same rules apply as always:  Be on your best behavior (a/k/a the Aaron Proctor Rule), no videotaping or photographing of anyone without permission, and most of all:  have fun!

Bloggers that I know of for certain that will be in attendance aside from the organisers include West Coast Grrlie Blather, Pasadena PIO, Pasadena Daily Photo, 99 Cent Chef, Crime Scene Blog and who all else I don’t know as most show with out filling out the RSVP!

Details: Saturday 9/27 1-7PM Aztec Hotel & Brass Elephant,311 W Foothill Blvd, Monrovia, CA 91016 US

A new report on carbon emissions shocks scientists.

Californians sometimes are perceived as being the most eco-conscious in the nation. In Los Angeles, no celebrity worth his or her Trader Joe’s Hawaiian Black Sea Salt doesn’t embrace environmental causes either sincerely or cynically for the publicity it guarantees.

There’s a history of Hollywood liberals’ favorite pet cause that stretches back to the 1960s when the earth movement was formed. Angelenos therefore are alternately held up before the country for praise and ridicule on the subject depending upon your political stripe.

Well guess what? You can drive your Prius, ride your bike, take the Metro or the bus, burn CFL bulbs, purchase Energy Star high efficiency appliances, carry your groceries in canvas totes, use “green” products, buy organic fiber clothes, recycle, march, demonstrate, petition and vote all you want to save the planet.

Then you can kiss the human race’s ass good-by, according to report released by the U.N.’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Researchers found the rate at which humans are polluting is accelerating, not diminishing as was predicted based on the positive impact of a worldwide economic downturn, causing some leading scientists to use words like, “scary” and say things like, “We should be worried — really worried. This is happening in the context of trying to reduce emissions.”

The report also says the rate that forests and oceans naturally absorb carbon dioxide created by humans is falling. Temperature levels could increase by over 11 degrees by 2100 according to the new data on emissions.

With the election and the economic turmoil dominating the news lately, the LA Times article about the report ran on page 22 of today’s print edition. There’s no evidence of it at all on the LAT homepage, but if you click on the environment link it’s the top article on that page.

It belongs front and center.

.

Peek-a-boo!

With the economy teetering on the brink of financial ruin, I was certain this latest development meant the four horsemen of the apocalypse were on their way.

Thankfully, this “story” simply turned out to be clever marketing by Paramount Pictures for their film Eagle Eye, which opens today and stars acting sensation Shia LaBeouf.

The movie studio ran a full-screen mockup of the Los Angeles Times’ home page with fake news items pertaining to their film.

You can see the full ad after the jump.

We now return to our regularly scheduled calamity.

Read the rest of this entry →

At the height of The Great Depression, one of the most respected institutions in America still thrived. Instead of tearing down, they were building up. They were the pride of the city. They were the news.

They were The Los Angeles Times.

The year was 1934.

Photo from the Los Angeles Public Library

Even though I lean pretty left, I don’t like posting political stuff here as that can found on my blog.  However, in the spirit of community and fitness, I was inspired to post about Barackcycle 3 happening this weekend.

Meeting location: Vermont/Sunset Metro Station in East Hollywood (near Children’s Hospital Los Angeles)

This 17.6-mile ride will take us “round the mountain” from East Hollywood to Los Feliz, Griffith Park, Burbank, Toluca Lake (lunch break at Bob’s Big Boy on Riverside), Studio City, Universal City, Cahuenga Pass and Hollywood. There will be a few hills but they will be mostly gradual and not very steep (uphill). (see map)

Sounds like a great way to meet other Angelenos and see the city.  For more information you can email Elson Trinidad at elson@elsongs.com.

I recently sent my Senator, Dianne Feinstein, an email regarding oil drilling and energy in our local area.  Here is the full text of the email reply I received today from her office:

“Dear Mr. Mason:

Letter begins here.

Sincerely yours, 

Dianne Feinstein
United States Senator”

Thanks, Dianne.  You can expect the same effort from me at the voting booth during your next Senate election campaign.

After a day in that car my face is still sore from grinning through every curve.

Bullitt on top of the Crest...that is LA in the fog baby!

The best adventures happen when you just run with a door opened.  The Mustang Bullitt makes that run even more fun.  In short I loved the car despite a few niggles.  My adventure with the Bullitt came as a result of a post I did at the LA Launch of the 2010 Camaro. I called the current base Mustang a gelding compared to what was shown for the base Camaro.  Turns out commenter dwr1ten works for the marketing company for Ford here in So Cal and felt I was underestimating the Mustang.  She offered up a Bullitt and I took her up on it.

Los Angeles is an important market for Ford and the Mustang Bullitt.  According to Ford’s marketing “LA and CA in general are very important bellwethers for Ford, if a car sells here it well do well anywhere”.  Los Angeles is so important to Ford that the next generation Mustang will be premiered here the day before the LA Auto Show in November.

The Bullitt is a limited edition car.  Only 7700 copies of this beauty will ever be made.  LA has gotten more than its fair share.  As of Monday in California there are 330 Bullitts available, 93 remain here in LA.  120 have sold in LA already this year.  The remarkable aspect of those sales is that they were sold without rebates or incentives.  Priced at 32,500 the car has no options, and is very nicely equipped.  It is an outright bargain when you look at its abilities and competition.  Read the rest of this entry →

Riding With Mary invite

My pal Chris Haston is showing some of his amazing photos at Smooth n’ Purdy at the Complex. Not that Chris needs me to plug the event – as the official NBC photographer for I don’t know how many years, this thing should be packed to the gills with celebs and bigwigs, plus a lot of photographers and the like. Which means it should be A Great Time.

Is this a link to the evite? Who can know – evites are the freaking devil.

But the show is going to be great – Chris is an amazing photographer and this is a really great project.

Show up, and get classy already!

Saturday, Sept. 27th, 2008
7 to 11PM
3015 Glendale Blvd. Suite 300
(just before Glendale and Hyperion split)
Los Angeles, CA 90039

This my friends is a snapshot of what looks like the new Orange 20 storefront. As previously discussed in several comment threads here, the popular bike shop was trying to get the corner space on Melrose and Heliotrope that had been previously occupied by a Furniture store. There’s no word on their site about it, but it looks like a move in and buildout has begun. That’s amazing news for bike fans in LA. No word yet what will happen with the old shack-like space they are currently located in.

Computer nerds, Cat lovers and Battlestar Galactica fans take note! NVIDIA is auctioning off a one of a kind BSG themed PC signed Tricia Helfer, with the proceeds going to Los Angeles Kitten Rescue. Additionally, NVIDIA will match the final auction total for the final donation. They will also pay the shipping to you. More details can be found in this auction.

This is awesome because the kittens certainly could use your help, and BSG fans (like myself) will totally worship you if you are rocking this PC. What’s better than that?

(Thanks Tara!)