It is possible (I say this with much trepidation as I am sure this pronouncement will be met with much naysaying) that I have finally found LA’s greatest hamburger. It is possible that the greatest hamburger in Los Angeles can be found at Howard’s Famous Bacon and Avocado Burgers, at Venice and Sepulveda.

This is not a fancy burger. Apart from the eponymous bacon and avocado, this is a burger with absolutely no frills. But do you know what? Some days all I want is some ridiculous burger topped with three different varieties of artisinal smoked provolone, a balsamic reduction, pineapple-mango salsa, micro-greens and unicorn saliva. And some days I only have five dollars and I just want a burger, dammit.

And those are the days when Howard’s is it. The blinding, blinking sign is like a beacon in the smog; the orange and turquoise interior is decorated with faded, curling movie posters from the 1940s; and the burger is probably perfect. The bun is toasty and lovely, the patty is juicy and delicious, the bacon is crispy, the avocado is perfectly ripe, and the cheese, well, the cheese is orange.  And all is right with the world.  This is possibly the closest I’ve come to my ideal, platonic cheeseburger.

Ok, now tell me:  where’s your favorite burger in LA?

Howard’s Famous Bacon and Avocado Burgers
11127 Venice Blvd Ste 7
Los Angeles, CA 90034
(310) 838-9111

Well, it finally happened.  The food truck phenom is so pervasive that it is now part of Bank of America’s advertising campaign.  While you’re mobile banking, see if your house is being foreclosed upon, yah?

For those that are interested in such things, you’ll have another opportunity to catch a glimpse of Air Force One later this week. The President will be paying a visit to the City Of Angels on Friday.

As I’ve written here before, most people have seen a 747. Hell, you almost can’t miss them if you’re anywhere near Sepulveda and the 105. This is probably the most famous 747, though, and it is truly an impressive sight. Especially impressive when you consider all of the other aircraft, staff, and logistics that have to be coordinated every time it takes flight.

Air Force One is scheduled to land at Los Angeles International Airport on Friday morning at 11:20am. A good spot to watch it descend toward the runway is the lawn at In-N-Out on Sepulveda. That’s just a fly-over spot, though, so if you want to get a longer look, I’d recommend somewhere down near the other end of the runway. The last time I was there for an AFO arrival, I noticed quite a few people getting a bird’s eye view from West Imperial Avenue (above Imperial Highway; map here.) If you hit this spot, take binoculars. You’ll be at the closest viewing area to AFO’s parking space, but it’s still a fair distance away (see map.)

Something to keep in mind: Air Force One is scheduled to arrive at 11:20am. The last time this plane came to town, it actually landed 40 minutes ahead of schedule. If you’re going to watch it land, plan ahead and get there a little early.

Also, anyone remember the traffic nightmare caused by the President moving about the city in August? Ugh! Keep an eye/ear out for street closures on Friday afternoon and evening.

Photo by Truejustice, used under Creative Commons.

Los Angeles, I know you’ve said it before. “I like all kinds of music. Well, except for hardcore Scandinavian death-metal/polka mash-ups and, ugh…country.” I know you’ve said it, because I said it myself. Then, when I wasn’t looking, I started liking a little country music. Then a lot. At first I thought it was what some would call a “guilty pleasure,” but then I realized I didn’t feel all that guilty about it. It turns out, I like a little twang in my tunes.

Truth be told, up until a few months ago, I really didn’t know much about Vince Gill. I bought tickets for the Fourth of July fireworks spectacular at the Hollywood Bowl, and it just happened that Gill was the featured artist that night with the Hollywood Bowl orchestra. I became a fast fan, though. Vince Gill is a pretty darn good guitar player, and one hell of a songwriter. It was a great show. Hence my excitement about seeing him this week at a much more intimate venue like Club Nokia.

Thanks to our friends at Goldenvoice, I’m able to offer you an opportunity to see Vince Gill, too.

What: Vince Gill in concert.
When: Friday, 22 October 2010. 8:00pm.
Where: Club Nokia, at the LA Live complex. Downtown Los Angeles.

I’ve got several pairs of tickets for lucky Blogging.LA readers. All you have to do is leave a comment below telling me you want to go to the show, and what your guilty pleasure is, whether country music or whatever else.

Don’t want to take a chance on winning tickets? You can buy tickets online here.

Enter now, and I’ll see you there Friday night. I’ll be the guy in the cowboy boots and Pølka Dêthmöngerz t-shirt.

Are you a Gleek and a pet lover? Then this event is for you!*

The Rescue Train is holding its 5th annual Race for the Rescues event this Sunday, October 24 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. The day will include a 5k, 10k and kids fun run along with lots of entertainment along the way. The proceeds benefit 10 non-profit pet rescue organizations in LA. There will be a huge silent auction, face painting for the kids and lots of pet shopping to dress up your four legged friend in time for Halloween. And if you were looking to adopt a new four legged friend, there will be dog and cat adoptions all day through the LA Animal Services and Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA.

And  your celebrity hosts for the event? Jane Lynch from Glee along with Carrie Ann Inaba from “Dancing With The Stars” and Danielle Fishel from the Style Network’s “The Dish.” Get your Gleek on!

Registration starts at 7am with races starting at 8:30. All events will wind down around 1pm. For a full schedule of events and to sponsor racers or make general donations to The Rescue Train, click here.  For more general info on The Rescue Train, please click here.

*I’m looking at you, Blogging.la author Queequeg!

Photo of "Jetta Rose," one of many pets who need homes via Rescue Train

Appropriately-named "Spaghetti Western"

Santa Monica Art Studios, housed in a former airplane hangar at the Santa Monica Airport, opened its doors this past weekend for the 6th Annual Open Studios event.  I have been to several of the six yearly events, ostensibly to support one of the artists in residence, my old friend Rachel Grynberg.  But each year I really enjoy the variety of works on display, and the ability to meet the artists and their representatives.  This year’s event did not disappoint.

Artist Rachel Grynberg in her studio

The hangar, including a front space (the “Arena 1 Gallery“), a couple of hallways, and over 30 studios, was lined with artwork that ranged from a giant Clint Eastwood-clad Barilla spaghetti box to paintings, prints, photos, and much more.  The Arena 1 space was occupied with a show entitled F-Utility (with a dot, not a dash), curated by artist Oona Gardner and displaying a number of pieces and images from a variety of artists, including Julie Schustack, Mark Moskovitz, and Matt Monroe.  Moskovitz’ You Are Here series of digital prints was a result of something that would be right at home on blogging.la: the Cleveland-area artist took an east-west run from the Highland Park area to the Santa Monica Pier and back — over 30 miles — and took snapshots of what he saw along the way.

Julie Schustack's "Piano Vise" -- a working music player

Monroe’s Frontier also picked up the travel theme, but in a different way.  His piece — the most noticeable of the entire event — was a full-size covered wagon made from plastic IKEA items, including shower curtains, baseball bats, ice trays, and toy guns.  Imagine how America would have been different if the pioneers had been able to stock up at IKEA before their trek westward, and neatly store their items in large plastic tubs.

"Frontier" by Matt Monroe

I also had an interesting conversation with Andrea Lithgow, artist and proprietor of the Dandy Jewelry mini-shop arranged on a couple of tables at the back of the hangar.  Andrea makes and sells beautiful glazed ceramic jewelry, including bracelets, necklaces, and more. Her pieces are hand-made yet “mass produced”: even though many pieces were similar looking, no two were identical.

Andrea Lithgow of Dandy Jewelry

Whether you want to contemplate art vs. commerce, are in the mood to buy some fascinating pieces (reasonably priced, compared to what I have seen at other art events), or just gaze at the glaze, Santa Monica Art Studios should be on your list.  The Arena 1 F-Utility show in particular will continue at the Studios through November 20.

Update: Contest is now closed! Congrats to our winners (who were selected at random – check your email)!!

My favorite Australian import The Temper Trap is back in town! They’re of my favorite bands from anywhere actually, and fantastic live. Like, I bought an actual physical CD at their show at the Roxy last year. That’s a big deal.

You’ve most likely heard The Temper Trap already, even if you haven’t heard of them. Their songs have appeared in just about every TV show and commercial (and one particular downtown LA-centric movie!) made in the past year and a half. Or at least it sure seems that way…

Their show downtown may be sold out already, but blogging.la has scored a bunch of FREE tickets to see The Temper Trap Friday night at the Fox Theater in Pomona (details here) in the beautiful San Gabriel Valley. You can take the 210 on the way back so you can hit the Sonic in Duarte!

We have four pairs of tickets to give away, so to enter the contest, just comment below and let us know what’s been your favorite TV appearance by The Temper Trap? Or at least, what’s your favorite track off their debut album, Conditions?

I’ll get you started with my fave:

Most of the things I miss about the Bay Area has a decent, if not better, substitute here.  For example, when my body addict-aches from lack of Cheeseboard Pizza, I head over to Pizzeria Mozza for something comparable (before the food bloggerati riots, my emphasis is on comparable).  There is, however, a void: snobbery aside, I miss the Ferry Building, or, at least, the idea of the Ferry Building.  You could go there on any given day and pick up jams, fresh bread, and chocolate for your mom, all in one place.  You also could attend the occassional class on sausage or pasta making.  LA does not have anything quite similar; Santa Monica Place promises The Market, a spot where local vendors can show off their fancy gourmet wares … starting in early 2011 (at best).  Artisanal LA, set for October 23rd and 24th at the Cooper Building downtown, will fill the gap nicely.

Organized by Shawna Dawson, one-half of the team that organized Unique LA and the LA Street Food Fest, Artisanal LA promises a food truckload of events: demos (new butchers Lindy & Grundy will show off their knife skills during a “heritage meats and home butchering” demo); workshops (i.e., urban farming); and copious sampling (food and beer and vodka and did I mention beer and vodka?).  In addition, there will be 75 (and counting) local tastemakers offering their locally made food (among others, Homegirl Cafe, Backwards Bee Keepers, and the awesomely named That’s a Nice! Italian foods).

Advance tickets to Artisanal LA are $10 (partial proceeds will benefit the LAUSC Edible School Gardens which, to give credit where it’s due, has Alice Waters to thank).  On the day-of, tickets will be $15 at the door (assuming there is room capacity).  One ticket gets you in the whole weekend, so in case you are so busy eating/shopping/both on Saturday, you’ll have a second chance to have another go at it on Sunday.  I know, whew.

When I first heard Sleigh Bells‘ single, “Crown On The Ground,” on pitchfork, I was beset by equal parts revulsion and amazement. Squelching, overpowering guitars rattling out a stattaco, distorted-into-the-red rhythmic melody, accompanied by flattened vocals that provided more of a melodic layer than the guitars themselves–as if the vocals were a synth texture–was almost unlistenable, with producer Derek Miller utilizing the blown-out-speakers sound as a defining feature of the duo’s sound.

But it was unlistenable in that bracing, so-intense-it-hurts kind of way, the way I love that first ice-cold sip of Diet Coke because it hurts so good going down my throat. Sleigh Bells make your ears bleed, in an irresistible way. Alexis Krauss belts out anthems like a raver-cheerleader, her one-note vocals providing additional audio textures, as if Derek is using her voice as yet another layer of instrumentation.

Sleigh Bells are fucking amazing.

I’m really excited about this show, and apparently everyone else in LA is too, because it’s SOLD OUT. So blogging.la is now one of the only ways to score tix.

Wanna win your way into the show? Leave a comment telling me what you thought the first time you heard Sleigh Bells. We’ll pick one lucky winner to get a pair of tix to the show.

Info on the show is here.

Old Cars and fun at Pasadena’s Art Center College of Design Sunday 10/17/10, 10AM-6PM. The Car Classic ‘10 will take place on at Art Center’s Hillside Campus. The event was moved from its historical July date to ensure cooler temperatures and allow attendees to spend even more time enjoying the beautiful cars, world-famous speakers, and inspiring student work.

This year’s Car Classic will celebrate the thrill of motion, capturing the joy and excitement of various modes of transportation that allow us to move well beyond our own abilities. This years keynote presentation will be by alumnus Frank Stephenson, design director for McLaren Automotive. They will also do the LA Premiere of the new McLaren MP4-12C. Another speaker will be Jeff Zwart, an automobile photographer, director who recently set a new record racing up Pike’s Peak in a Porsche 911 GT3.

Sorry folks, but this isn’t a free event, rather it will cost you $60 at the door or $50 online (Alumni will save $20 if they order online). The proceeds from this event will go to a variety of funding for scholarships for their undergraduate, graduate and public programs.

To purchase tickets you can contact them via email at carclassic@artcenter.edu or call 626/396-2304.

Details:Sunday October 17, Art Center College of Design Hillside Campus, 1700 Lida Street, Pasadena, CA
Additional info on their website HERE.

Pic by me of a “million dollar T-bird” from a recent Barret-Jackson auction.

Is this a semi-annual April Fool’s joke?  CHP Southern Division, L.A. County apparently tweeted the following @CHP_Southern an hour ago:

“CHP Dispatch receiving a call from hiker stating he fell & is stuck between the two ‘L’s on the HOLLYWOOD sign. @lafd has been notified”

Of course, the tweet and/or the alleged phone call could be a prank.  But if not, I suggest we call the Chilean mine rescue team, as they suddenly have some down time. I imagine we’ll be learning more about this soon.

I can almost see the stuck hiker between the L's

Yup, this one’s for SUPERCHUNK, VASELINES, and TELEKINISIS.

The show is at the Music Box on Tuesday, October 19th.

What, you wonder, do YOU have to do to score two free tickets?

The first person to comment with a sentence (in English) using all the letters of the alphabet wins.

The shorter the better – Oh and “The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog” is out.

It’s easy to categorize music. And some (ummm, okay, less enlightened types…) might say Kruder and Dormeister are ‘dance music’ stars. Ha!… We know they are so much more!
Together, they blend, twist, experiment and enchant as no other producers do. They are one of the few who take notes into whole new forms. They harness tribal beats and split them up, coax you into a sweet mood late in the night and then blast a jolt of lightning into the aural mix. It’s sweet and damned exciting.

They are not to be missed.

I’m stoked they are gracing our beloved city this Friday night at Club Nokia. I’ll definitely be there groovin’ along with many others in the know.

If you want to hang for free and get your musical world rocked, tell me what Kruder and Dorfmeister means to you. And why you should be one of the chosen ones. We’re giving away four pairs of tickets. Get your thoughts into the comments below and we’ll pick four of the most worthy (or most entertaining) ones to attend the show. And if you miss the giveaway, you can always score tickets here.

32% of all collisions in Los Angeles are hit and run, and the penalties for getting caught really don’t discourage this. Recently Celine Mahdavi, the women who clobbered Louis Deliz into 49 days of hospitalization and likely a lifetime a pain and suffering, then fled the scene, was given no jail time, no suspension of license, only 90 days of community service. This is insane. If you you someone with your car and then drive away leaving them for dead, at the very least your license should be pulled. The folks over at Bikeside are initiating the “Life Before License” campaign to fix the law and put some value back on human life. They are proposing the following:

-A hit and run which results in fatality will result in the loss of driving privileges for 10 years.
-A hit and run which results in permanent disability, or causes a life threatening injury will result in the loss of driving privileges for 5 years.
-A hit and run which results in injury, but which does not lead to permanent disability or a life threatening injury, will result in the loss of driving privileges for 2 years.
-A hit and run which results in the damage of property only will result in the loss of driving privileges for 1 year.

But more than just proposing, they are actually trying to make this happen. On Sunday, 10/17, at the Hollywood Adventist Church at 1711 N. Van Ness Ave from 1pm to 3pm there will be an organizational meeting to plan and assign next steps. This is important and it’s worth your attention.