In one of the most anticipated openings of LA Live’s offerings, Trader Vic’s comes back to Los Angeles on April 26th to once more thrill Angelenos and tourists alike.  Even with a little more than a week to go, reservations are already filling and private parties are being booked. Unless you’ve experienced Trader Vic’s at some point in your life, it most likely makes no sense, particularly in the present economic climate. However, in a time when escape is a big money maker (ie. video games), one that hasn’t seen much of a hit while recession proof businesses are floundering, we all need a place like Trader Vic’s where we can enter into another world, be treated like the kings and queens of the island and just relax if even for an hour or two.

While Trader Vic’s has a lush and tawdry history in Los Angeles, as it was a favorite spot for the rich and famous like Hugh Hefner, it all began a few decades before landing in Beverly Hills.  In 1934, a man named Victor Bergeron started a little saloon in Oakland with nothing more than $500.  He called it Hinky Dinks, after a WWII song.  It was a big hit and soon became very popular.  A few years later, the name changed to the now internationally known Trader Vic’s due to Victor’s infamous habit of bartering.

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Today is National Record Store Day and to do my part as a citizen of Vinyl Nation, I went to the new Origami Records shop on Sunset in Echo Park (right next to Two Boots Pizza and the Echo) and bought my first, in years, new –as in not-used– vinyl record: The Greatest by Cat Power.

Kicked off last year in San Francisco and now officially observed the third Saturday of every April, several other Los Angeles record stores are participating in this year’s National Record Store Day, including my favorites Freakbeat in Sherman Oaks, Rockaway in Silver Lake and, of course, Amoeba. Over 700 indie record stores nationwide, and some international ones too, are participating. Special performances, limited edition releases on LP and CD and carnival-esque events are a part of the mix too. Think of it as the anti-Coachella (although they have a presence there too.) A complete list of participating stores and additional info are on their site.

How I joined the Church of Chan after the click-click, pop, hiss…

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Photo of Colin Hay by Chris Hemmerly under a CC License

In “Can’t Take This Town,” Colin Hay explores a few of the more unpleasant aspects of life in Los Angeles. It’s a good companion piece to “In California,”  which Lucinda Michele reviewed last week. Hay’s song is perhaps a bit less poetic, but it gets the point across while exploring things such as vanity, parking, and schmoozing. He also delves into the more serious issue of violence.

There’s a woman in the mirror, fixing her lips
There’s a man in the bathroom, looking for tips
I park the car, and no one to pay
And one pizza later, it’s towed away

I’m not a fan of restroom attendants and am perfectly happy to get my own paper towel. Likewise, I’m not big on the car towing thing. Luckily, I’ve only had that experience once and now read parking signs much more carefully. It’s an expensive mistake to make. Parking in L.A. seems to be a common frustration. The lack of free parking, the overabundance of overpriced lots, and the frequently changing rules and fees for street parking can all be irritating.

Read on for more reasons why Colin Hay can’t take this town

Music has a way of connecting to sense memories. Certain songs will take you back in time, recreating a remembered feeling each time you hear them. Every time I hear the halting-driving-halting-driving opening beats of “Los Angeles” it takes me back to a time when I was truly discovering my home.

I came to punk rock late. In the late-70s and early-80s when punk was hitting its stride, I was still in elementary and middle schools in Glendora, at the far eastern edge of the county. I always thought I grew up in L.A., but it turned out to be a small, cloistered corner.

It wasn’t until after high school and the freedom of my own car that I started to explore Pasadena, downtown, Hollywood and points west. Then I began to really discover Los Angeles. That coincided with the period when I became aware of bands like the Ramones, New York Dolls, Black Flag, and X.

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This weekend, is the unofficial kickoff into to Spring and Summer, what with Coachella, LACMAs Friday Night Jazz Series last night and the Brewery’s Artwalk.
Today many Angelenos will braved the crowds and tricky parking situation to visit the live/work spaces at The Brewery.

Scuplture, paintings, graphic design, fashion and new media including TV and audio are showcased throughout. I suggest getting there earlier in the day as parking isn’t such a headache and it’s been my experience over the last 7 years that they usually run out of food around 2pm. Besides…you’ll also have the elbow room to actually view the pieces.

There’s an afterparty which starts at 6pm, goes to 2am. 620 Moulton Ave. #215, LA, CA 90031.

Omar omar's photo of LA's Main Street used through a Creative Commons license

Well fellow strugglers, we are a hair’s breadth from being declared the US city where it is “hardest to get by” according to Forbes‘ calculations. Ignominiously edged out by Providence (Providence?! Really?), we can still take some measure of pride in our position at the vanguard of economic collapse. Go team!

“To determine which of the 50 largest U.S. metropolitan statistical areas . . . squeeze residents most, [Forbes] measured cost of living, unemployment rate and median income in each.” LA, unsurprisingly, did okay on median income ($56,680) but pretty crappy on cost of living index (48 points above national average) and unemployment (10.2%).

Numbers three, four and five on the list were Riverside, California; Tampa, Florida; and Buffalo, New York.

Sing it along with me:  “It’s a hard world to get a break in. All the good things have been taken…”

Good looking out, E.

We expect a TwitPic of you working hard in a CalTrans jumpsuit.

Also in that email from Tom La Bonge’s office that I mentioned in my last post:

Hollywood residents, please note that the re-surfacing of Sunset

Blvd. between Highland and LaBrea will begin at 8 p.m. TONIGHT and be

completed by 10 a.m. tomorrow.  The City’s Bureau of Street Services

mobilized heavy machinery and several crews to accomplish this project

as quickly as possible.  Please use alternative routes to avoid delays.

It’s official. According to an email from Councilmember Tom LaBonge’s office that just appeared in my inbox:

The City Council voted 9-2 today to approve a tiered water rate

system in response to the state-wide drought that’s now into its third

year. The plan, which requires heavy-water-users to pay more than

water-misers, takes effect on June 1.

Los Angeles residents who use more than the allotted base amount of water will be charged 44% more for the amount they use over that level. Two months ago, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa called for drought-year pricing that decreases by 15% the amount of water that ratepayers can buy monthly at the lowest price tier.

So in effect, the less you use the less you pay.

This all comes on the heals of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California reducing water deliveries by 10% to the region.

I know I promised a post on My Bloody Valentine’s concert last night, but I just received word that Shawn Mortensen, the photographer responsible for some of the most iconic images of the 1990′s, has died.

The details are uncertain as of yet, but it is confirmed that Mortensen has passed on. Sources close to him say that a memorial service will be held soon.

Mortensen was an instigator and a scribe of the 90′s art, culture, and music movements. He photographed Snoop Dogg, when the gangsta rapper was only 19. He cataloged the Zapatista uprising, and introduced Rage Against the Machine to their struggle. He watched AIDS decimate the artist populations of NYC and LA.

In 2007, I met Mortensen. We chatted about his life and place at the epicenter of 90′s art and music. He was supposed to write an article for LA’s Flaunt magazine, where I worked at the time, about his life, but instead of an article, he gave me a 22 page stream of consciousness, impressionist brushstoke of his experiences. .. Read the rest of this entry →

I am often intrigued by the art that proprietors decide to hang in their restrooms, particularly in restaurants, though other establishments have their quirks too.  I suppose there is an inherent sample bias here, since I am more likely to stay long enough, and drink enough beverage,  in a restaurant to want to see the restroom than I am in a grocery, clothing store, or other types of establishments.  In fact, I think these quirky choices are worthy of their own new, occasional, series of posts.

A taste of Egypt?!

There is a Vietnamese restaurant I sometimes go to in the Valley, called Pho 999. Apparently the one at 12905 Sherman Way, North Hollywood, is one of three Valley restaurants under the same name and ownership (the other two are in Van Nuys and Reseda).  I have not been to the others, so have no idea about their choice of artwork.  Pho 999 is the sort of place one expects to find situated in a small strip mall, with formica diner tables, and condiments and utensils in a rack on each table.  The food is inexpensive and quite excellent; there are quite a dizzying array of items on the menu, though that basically amounts to every permutation of Pho and Bún, so it is really just a matter of deciding which proteins you want and whether you want broth or dry noodles.

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They shared the road at Third & Spring. People. Horses. Cars. Trains.

The year was 1918.

Photo from the USC Digital Archive

The votes are pouring in for Classic Eats #5 (May 2). Currently Classic Hollywood Cocktails are winning by a good lead followed by Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles. I thought since Cinco De Mayo was a few days after Classic Eats that Lucy’s El Adobe or El Cholo would be up there. Mob rule is a tricky thing.

Click here for the ballot if you haven’t voted yet. The survey will close on Monday April 27.

Click through past the jump for details on all candidates on the ballot. There is a new contestant on the ballot as well.

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Art Brut in LA. Photo used with permission.

This is not a deep post about a life-changing song. Art Brut have not provided the sound track for my life’s crises or revelations. This is a post about a pop song sung by a British pop band who are fun and cute and put on a great show.

I admit, I’m not all punk rock. I’ve seen Art Brut three times, and I will no doubt see them again when they set up camp in LA for four days running in June. Art Brut will play Spaceland June 16-18 and The Echo the 19th. If you haven’t seen them and you have any fondness for Brit pop, do yourself a favor. They are lots of fun and they love LA almost as much as we do. Their song “Moving to LA” is a celebration of all those illusions Lucinda Michele (and Lisa Marr) warn us we had better put aside to make our peace with this place :

When I get off the plane
The first thing I’m gonna do is…
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Last year I attended my first sumo match at the U.S. Sumo Open and had the honor of meeting World Sumo Champion Byambajav “Byamba” Ulambayar, who defeated giant Petar Stoyanov for the third consecutive time in the U.S. Sumo Open (men’s heavyweight division).

Current Sumo Champ "Byamba" Ulambayar and Former "Blonde" Verdell (taken during his visit to Warner Bros.)

This weekend you too can check out some hot sumo action as part of the Monterey Park Cherry Blossom Festival, which runs all weekend, April 18 and 19, at the Civic Center located at 320 West Newmark Ave in Monterey Park.

On Sunday, April 19 at 1:00 PM, U.S. Sumo Champions will be participating in a demonstration sponsored by the California Sumo Association. Admission is free.

For a complete list of performances and more information on the Cherry Blossom Festival, see the City of Monterey Park’s web site. Free parking and shuttle service to the Festival is available. Read the rest of this entry →