David Yow will be the guest dj tomorrow night (Saturday June 10th, 2006) from 10pm til 2am for my weekly stint at The Vine Bar in Hollywood. David used to sing/yelp/flail in The Jesus Lizard, and before that he did the same in Scratch Acid (who are reuniting for Touch & Go’s 25th anniversary party along with Big Black and others, click here for more info). So if you like cheap drinks, rock n’ roll & good peoples, don’t blow it…. come by. 1235 N Vine St Hollywood, CA 90038 Cross Street: La Mirada Ave.
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As Will mentioned earlier I’ve spent the last week readjusting to riding my bike which has been collecting dust for the last four years. Since some of that time it was sitting outside it needed some work to get back into top riding shape. Living in silverlake I figured that there was some bad ass shop on a backstreet that I just didn’t know about and e-mailed a bunch of people I thought would be in the know. Turns out they weren’t. And Google knew even less. Everyone raves about the Bicycle Kitchen but that’s more of a bring-your-stuff-there-and-fix-it-yourself kind of place and not so much the drop-your-bike-off-and-have-it-fixed or the buy-some-new-parts kind of place which is more what I was looking for. Initially I just needed a tune up, but as I ride more I’m going to have to replace a few components here and there and I really wanted a shop I could trust. Over the past week I’ve spent a lot of time researching and visiting shops and here’s what I’ve discovered:
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I don’t see many paleteros in Palms. I’ve lived here nearly six years and remember hearing the familiar bells a handful of times. Warm weather without a paleta de lim√≥n (lime fruit bar) just doesn’t feel right.

Summer as a kid meant spending most of the morning and noon hours indoors away from the sun and unhealthy air. In the afternoon, I’d run out and play games with my siblings and neighbors. We played tag, baseball, kick the can, dodgeball, kickball, jump rope, basketball, etc.

With all the running around we did, our enthusiasm at the site of el paletero was never a surprise. The paleteros were always dark skinned Mexican men, not too young nor too old. They wore long sleeve shirts and baseball caps to protect their skin from the hot sun. Oftentimes, we’d bring out a tall glass of ice cold water. My mom and grandparents knew what it was like to work in the hot sun in the fields or in suburban yards.

I always asked for the same thing from el paletero: una paleta de lim√≥n (a lime fruit bar). I paid with money from my generous grandpa, also a fan of paletas. I always spent all of the money on 50 and 65 cents paletas for anyone present… or to save in the freezer for later.

We’d sit under our shady mulberry tree and try to eat our paletas before they melted and started dripping down out hands and arms. As soon as we were done, we’d watch off the sticky juice and get back to our games feeling refreshed and rested.

I need to spend more time in a neighborhood with lots of paleteros.

Photo by Jim Winstead.

As usual in LA, there is a lot of amazing programming going on with museum exhibitions (see a future post on some great stuff at the Hammer next week). This Saturday, MOCA presents “Down for Whatever: A Roundtable on the Current States of African American Art” held in conjunction with their Lorna Simpson exhibition…continue reading

While I don’t know if my “Race for the Gavel!” series affected even a single vote in the June 6th elections for Superior Court judges, I do know more public attention in this sort of race is critical. Case in point: it appears that people voting out of guesswork and how a name sounds has ousted a long standing judge and replaced her with a candidate that the BAR association branded “not qualified” for the position.

From the LA Times, 6/8/06:

Judge Dzintra Janavs, a 20-year veteran of the bench, lost by almost 8 percentage points to Lynn Diane Olson, a Hermosa Beach resident and business owner who only late last year reactivated her state bar membership…

Rare in judicial contests, the race had drawn preelection attention because of speculation by political consultants and court observers that Janavs could be particularly vulnerable — and even may have been targeted — because of her unusual name…

Olson, who was rated “not qualified” by the Los Angeles County Bar Assn., outspent Janavs by more than 2 to 1, giving about $100,000 of her own money compared with about $42,000 in contributions reported by May 20 by the judge.

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Just a quick reminder that this weekend is PRIDE in West Hollywood. I wouldn’t have even noticed it, except the city of WeHo sent postcard reminders to all residents.

Events start today, culminating with the parade on Sunday at 11am, at SMB at Crescent Heights. Taylor Dane, The Bangles and Berlin are playing. Hooray for old 80′s bands! (Actually Berlin is my hair inspiration.) Streets will be closed around the center of the festivities at SMB and San Vicente, so watch out for traffic back-ups if you’re just passing through.

On a different note, has anyone noticed the resemblance of the WeHo logo with the outline of a revolver?

Scattered around the city, it’s another art-filled weekend this weekend in Los Angeles – gotta love it…continue reading

Image: Aida Klein – Untitled (family at Yellowstone), 2006 @ Mary Goldman

One of my artists, Coop, who shares my love of horror films, sent me a link to the 1994 “Cult Memories” essay written by the estimable Barbara Steele that is newly online. Mainly about her experience on the Italian film “Black Sunday,” she also shares a wee bit about David Cronenberg and her Los Angeles Jonathan Demme story which just screams ideal Hollywood:

One December morning, I was walking down Sunset Boulevard having just bought a slinky, red slipper satin dress, a la Jean Harlow, to go to Robert Altman’s Christmas party. I was thinking that I had never had a glamorous dress in any of the films that I had made. I always seem to end up in a serious of ghastly flannel nightgowns, whereas my peers (Martine Beswick, etc.) always seem to find themselves draped in some Helmut Newton fantasy of leggy, glamorous bondage of one kind or another. Suddenly, this enormous, sky blue, Fifties Buick with shimmering silver fins screeched to a stop and double parked. Jonathan Demme jumped out with a big smile and said that he’d been looking for me everywhere. He was going to start shooting Caged Heat in two days, and would I please play the role of a repressed lesbian prison warden. “Sure,” I said, “anytime.”

Isn’t that fabulous??? I’m currently really into reading biographies right now with subjects falling into one of three categories: art, European royality, or Hollywood which is probably why this 12-year old essay hits home abou the ever-glamorous Barbara Steele. So go now and read the rest – be transported back into 1960s Italy. Sigh…

KXLU 88.9 FM 2006 FUNDRAZOR

Perhaps you’ve been listening to KXLU 88.9 FM for years, perhaps you’re new to the station, regardless, it is arguably the last truly independent radio station in Los Angeles and they depend on your support to continue to function. Of course, they’re ready to give back to you for that support.

Together with their friends and supporters KXLU’s annual Fundrazor show will feature 20 bands for a mere $15.

What?

Yeah, 20 bands, $15. That’s like 9 hours of rock and perhaps the deal of the century, because not only are you gonna get to see some totally badass bands play, you’re going to be supporting independent media.

Here are the “deets,” as they say:

KXLU 2006 FUNDRAZOR * ALL DAY * SUNDAY 11 JUNE 2006 * @ THE ECHO AND
JENSEN’S REC CENTER (echo park) * STARTS 2P * $15 * PRESENTED BY KXLU
AND PART TIME PUNKS

ft: LAVENDER DIAMOND, AWOL ONE, IRVING, CASS MCCOMBS, KEITH MORRIS
W/WIRES ON FIRE, MIKA MIKO, THE WILLOWZ, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, DARKER
MY LOVE, BOOKS ON TAPE, DIE PRINCESS DIE, SILVER DAGGERS, TSK TSK,
NO AGE, ANAVAN HOLY BUFFAGLOW, HELLO FEVER, EREBUS NYX & STYX,
ABE VIGODA, ARMY NAVY, BAD DUDES

For more information check out KXLU and KXLU@myspace.

Just to prove bloggers are real people with real voices, eight of Los Angeles’ greatest blog scribes will be reading aloud to a live audience at “Subject Line Here” on Friday, June 16th, at the Improv Olympic in Hollywood.

Blogging.la contributors Shane Nickerson, Colleen Wainwright aka Communicatrix, and Wil Wheaton will be there, along with the equally stalkable Paul Davidson, AJ Gentile, Carly Milne, Annie Sertich, and Jessica Mae Stover.
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Just drove past Amoeba Records on Sunset (speaking of which, why is it that W. Sunset Blvd. actually east of Sunset Blvd. and not west?) on the way to work, and as expected, the line for The Raconteurs (MySpace) free show (it’s Losanjealous‘ concert pick of the week) at 11:00 AM (they’re performing another free show at the San Francisco store tonight at 9:30 PM) goes from the store entrance and extends south down Ivar and *way* past the store.

Bottom line is if you’re not already in line for have a friend holding a spot for you, you’re SOL:

Thursday – June 8th – 11am
THE RACONTEURS

“garage-rock cut with incisive pop hooks.” – New York Times

Jack Lawrence, Patrick Keeler, Jack White and Brendan Benson visit Amoeba for a special morning performance!! Their new album “Broken Boy Soldiers” is out now on V2 Records!

See them @ The Henry Fonda Music Box Theater in Hollywood on June 7th

(no photos or video during the in-store)

Like many Angelenos, I selfishly keep certain driving and parking secrets reserved for pillow talk. But in the case of the juggernaut at Franklin and Highland I think a little traffic karma might go a long way.

For those unfamilar with the area, the intersection is a strange one, as Franklin Blvd. runs east and west, but makes a proverbial jig at Highland, which runs north and south… drivers are thus forced to make a turn onto Highland and drive just under 100 yards before turning back onto Franklin Blvd.* Situated just short of the Hollywood Bowl and practically on top of Hollywood & Highland, the intersection is heavily trafficked, and in large part due to the awkward traffic flow, is prone to gridlock. However, this Drivehack!&#153 guide should help you manage it with ease (click image above or here for larger guide map).

If driving Eastbound on Franklin (away from the beach, toward Los Feliz, the Griffith Observatory, etc.), when you get near Highland always keep to the right lane – even if you plan on turning left to head north, as the left lane tend to get the most packed. This also allows for two Drivehacks!
Drivehack!&#153 #1. If you want to continue East on Franklin, avoid some traffic by driving STRAIGHT across the intersection instead of “making the jig”. This will put you on the block long Franklin Place before turning left onto Las Palmas and right back onto Franklin.
Drivehack!&#153 #2. Or if you’re planning to head North for the 101 entrance on Highland and traffic is severely backed up, you can instead make the right onto Franklin (or follow the route above) and hop onto the freeway at Vine.
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Or so proclaims the menu at Papadakis Taverna in San Pedro – which, you have to admit, is a pretty strong hook.

If you’re from San Pedro, you know Papadakis. You also know the family that owns the famed local establishment – a large, beloved Greek family who helped write our local town history and bring being a Trojan fan to a whole new level. If you’ve gone to Pedro High or USC, you probably had a Papadakis in your classes and if you’ve been to a USC Football game, you’ve probably cheered one on as well. But this post is about their restaurant located in Downtown San Pedro, steps from the waterfront and miles from ordinary.
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Just thought you’d like to know there’s a brand new Weird Al song
(which unfortunately, due to legal reasons, will NOT be on the new
album) available for free download right now at weirdal.com!

Nab it now before the lawyers make them shut it down…

(and thanks to 5000! for the heads up on the link – it’s fixed now)