Do you remember the movie Airplane?

Remember the two gentlemen who spoke “Jive?” Remember the subtitles at the bottom that translated what they were saying? Remember whenever one of them would say a certain word, the subtitle always translated it as “Golly?”

Such fun.

It’s in this spirit I would like to remind you, one and all, that The Wu-Tang Clan Ain’t Nothin’ to Trifle With!

(And if you haven’t seen Airplane, get your golly together and watch the trifling thing.)

In Any Case, I’m giving away Tickets to see The Wu on Saturday, Jan 21st! Wanna Go?

Email your Full Legal Name as it appears on your Legal Driver’s Licence or State ID card to blacontests@gmail.com

Winners will be notified and will show said ID at the Will Call booth the night of the show to claim tickets. Protect your neck.

Wu-Tang Featuring All Original Members: RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God and Masta Killa
Saturday January 21, 2012
Club Nokia
Los Angeles, California
Show time: 9:00pm
Door time: 8:00pm
Age: All Ages+

Step to the Wu.

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Try describing Beats Antique to someone that hasn’t experienced them and you end up talking about a kaleidoscope of styles.
It’s Electronica, No! it’s Middle Eastern, wait, it’s Down-tempo, maybe Afro-Beat? There’s an amazing bellydancer and her team, there’s sometimes a crazy Marching Band, occasionally a wild explosion of live puppet dancers, jazz. What the hell is it?

Divine. Going to a Beats Antique concert is always an experience, kind of psychedelic, kinda dreamy…always fun.
If you want to get in on the action for FREE just give us your description of what describes their vibe onstage. Best four descriptions get free tickets for this Friday nights show on the 30th at the Club Nokia.
Do it now, cuz we have to make a decision and give these tickets away! Make sure when you sign in you leave us your email so we can contact you if you win (it’s not published!)

If you don’t win, you can buy tickets here.
Along with Beats Antique, Emancipator, Random Rab and Lynx are hitting the stage.
Beats Antique was formed by two rad musicians Tommy “Sidecar” Cappeland, David Satori and a hip-hop belly dancer named Zoe Jakes. Their performances defy description! But give it your best shot!

8 years ago today the very first post went up here at blogging.la.  I for one have had a ton of fun and some interesting adventures courtesy this blog.  We’ve done a lot from the inane parking tard posts, to series to contests to Classic Eats and the Donut Summit.  We’ve blogged from the heart  covering everything from Downtown to the fringes of the suburbs and everything in between.   A lot of L.A. has been documented on this blog.  What has been your favorite post here?

Hope to see you at The Red Lion Tavern tomorrow evening!

Click here for the details!

The good folks at the L.A. Auto Show hooked me up with a Family 4 pack of tickets…that’s admission for 4 to this years show that will run November 18-27 at the Convention Center.  You’ll need to read the whole post in order to get to the details on what to do to win.

I’m really jazzed that the L.A. Auto Show has invited me back for Press Days this year which is this Wednesday and Thursday.  There is so much going on with some 50 premieres set for those days.  Add in the Green Car of the Year award and the press days driving of the green cars there is much to do and tell about. Read the rest of this entry →

Due to the overwhelming response from people who are unable to attend, tonight’s Classic Eats will be postponed until further notice. Basically, I don’t want to be eating sausages alone. Look for more details soon!

John Cho and Kal Penn as Harold and Kumar

The folks over at 8 Asians is running the contest.  Pretty simple rules you ask a question of John Cho and Kal Penn, they’ll read them, answer them and pick a winner.  All the details HERE at the 8 Asians post.  Its very important you ask the questions on their post as they won’t be looking here.  Seriously, ask the actors not the character (like my knuckle-headed kids insisted on).

While you are at it take a look at the 8 Asians blog.  They look at numerous issues, serious and humorous that affect the Asian American community.  The humorous ones are the most fun, but its all good.

Just a simple plug and we are cross posting with permission.  As well as using their publicity photo with permission.

The Lemonheads will be performing the album “It’s a Shame About Ray” in its entirety,

And I’m Giving Away Tickets!

Send an email with your Full Legal Name as it appears on your Legal ID*, and I’ll pick Winners at Random. I need them by Right Away! So send me an email and then watch your Inbox!

Send Email To BLACONTESTS@GMAIL.COM

The Lemonheads
performing It’s A Shame About Ray
With The Shining Twins and Street Chant
Thursday October 27, 2011
El Rey Theatre
Los Angeles, California
Show time: 9:00pm
Door time: 8:00pm
Age: All Ages+

*See, you show this ID at Will Call when you Pick up your Tickets. Makes sense, huh?

Its “Showvember” over at Golden Voice and they have really hooked us up this time.

I have 4 pairs, yes FOUR PAIRS of tickets to Cyndi Lauper’s November 4, 2011 show at Club Nokia.  What to do to win a pair so you can see her in the Memphis Blues Tour?  Simple, tell me why you want to go and the best 4 answers that I pick at random will each win a pair of tickets.  Please be sure to enter a legit email addy so I can contact you for your tickets.  I’ll announce winners Monday afternoon (10/24).

What to do if you aren’t a lucky winner or want to have prestige seats up in the balcony level?  Simple visit Golden Voice and purchase your own set.

Tip o the hat to our own Queequeg for finding this video for me.

Yes!!
This is the Real Deal!

Morris Day, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, Jesse Johnson, Jerome Benton, Jellybean Johnson, and Monte Moir.
That’s right, the Original Seven Members of The Time. (Hence the name.)

But I need names, NOW!! Show is tomorrow, Wed. Oct 19th. Wanna go?

Send an email with your Full Legal Name as it appears on your Legal ID*, and I’ll pick Winners at Random. I need them by Right Away! So send me an email and then watch your Inbox!

Send Email To BLACONTESTS@GMAIL.COM

*See, you show this ID at Will Call when you Pick up your Tickets. Makes sense, huh?

The Original 7ven:
The Band Formerly Known as The Time
Wed October 19th
Club Nokia
800 West Olympic Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90015
Doors at 7:30

Update: Winners have been notified! Congratulations!

I’ve got a secret that I can’t explain…actually, it’s not a secret now. We’re giving away TWO PAIRS of tickets to see OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) this coming Friday, October 7th at Club Nokia. I was excited when I learned earlier this year that OMD was still performing. I admittedly hadn’t thought of them in a good while, but I do have fond memories of their music I had some nice emo times listening to them and pining for a certain young man, before emo was even a thing.

If you are also nostalgic for some great 80s synth-pop and would like to see OMD live, leave a comment below (be sure to sign in with a legit email address) no later than Noon on Tuesday, 10/4.

More details on the show here.

I’ll try to avoid the cliche’s any further.  I am totally amped I to give away not one, but TWO pairs of Tickets to see Blondie at the Nokia on 10/5.  Yup, that punk/new wave songstress that I have admired since college is coming to town.  Her current tour promises a great mix of the early works as well as some of the newer stuff that drifts into experimental jazz.  I think I have every album she ever made and could ramble on about her, but if you want more on her discography and bio check out her official page HERE.

What to do to win?  Sign on in the comments with a legit email addy and tell me why you want to see Blondie. I’ll pick the winners at random Friday morning and make the announcement by noon.

For those of you who don’t win you can always go to Nokia directly HERE and order your tix.

It’s time to strap up, square off, and challenge yourself and your friends in an epic obstacle/adventure run experience! Dan Clark aka Nitro, from the original American Gladiators, is putting on the Gladiator Rock’n Run one-day challenge in Pasadena’s world famous Rose Bowl on October 1st.  Gladiator Rock’ n Run is a muddy, gritty, ultimate-test-of-wills event!  At the end of the run is the “Rock’n Rumble Pit” where you can square off against your friends and others, in Pugil Mayhem, Mud Tug-O-War, and other battle-hardened games, just like the old-school. Ages 14-and-up can participate, and racers are encouraged to form teams, wear over-the-top costumes, and get down and dirty! Plenty of freebies for finishers, including t-shirts from Affliction, and prizes for the top 3.

After the games are done, there’s 3 kickin’ bands ready to turn it up for the party,with food and free beer for race challenge participants (21+). Enjoy the event knowing that proceeds will go to benefit the charity TACA: (Talk About Curing Autism) Bring friends, family, and gawkers; it’ll be a muddy, wild, and awesome time, all for a good cause!More details can be found at their Web Site.  Contest info deets after the jump.

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This is a trivia teaser for the LA County Fair tickets that I have to give away.  You don’t expect to get a 4 pack of general admission tickets and parking by just being the first to answer do you?  The first person to get me the correct answer to the trivia question will win the pack of tickets and the parking pass.  When answering your trivia question please make sure you have a real email addy that I can use to contact you to have the tickets sent to you.  Now for the question:

How many animatronic dinosaurs are on display in Jurassic Planet?

If you don’t wanna take a guess at the trivia answer you can always just purchase your tickets HERE.

Albano's Sign by Jodi 8/19/2011

For years, my absolute favorite pizza place in L.A. was Albano’s on Melrose, just west of La Brea. Having done my fair share of time in the Northeast, I am a bit partial to New York style, thin crust pizza. Albano’s was not close to where I live and the parking was often less than convenient , but the pies made it worth any hassle. For a short time, they opened a second location in The Valley (twice), which was easier to get to, but I still preferred visiting the Melrose location. However, by the end of 2007, Albano’s was no more. While the owner was briefly involved with Robano’s when it initially opened in Toluca Lake in 2008, he ended up leaving and their pizza hasn’t been the same since.

I was driving to an appointment last Friday and as I drove by the former Albano’s location, I looked over as I usually do. I was shocked to see the old sign instead of that of one of the pizza joints that took over the spot after Albano’s closed. I didn’t quite believe what I saw and was running early, so I drove around the block for confirmation. OMG! Later that night, we went for slices and were hugged and kissed by Anthony Albano, who knew us as regular customers before and appreciated us coming back over the hill for Albano’s, the Best Pizza in L.A. It’s delicious. Try it for yourself.