The good times keep rolling. Mother’s Day with my son and later with Mogwai was most enjoyable. Now I’m looking ahead to June and the month long celebration of my birth. The day itself I will be at the Shellac show at the Varsity Theater. But the next day will find me flying out to L.A. - for the first time in over a decade - to hang out with old friends all weekend long. This will be just the thing.
Now for a random roundup of five good things:
- Geeks of Doom tackles some Explanations For 10 Gripes People Have About The New ‘Star Trek’ Film (which I enjoyed Friday night). HUGE spoilers! Avert your eyes if you haven’t seen it! And look at this instead - Star Trek, Kate Beaton style.
- I’d love to attend a screening of The Greatest Break-Up Story Ever Told - Sita Sings the Blues. But there won’t be any near me. Thankfully the full film is available online. And the creator, the amazing Nina Paley, has a blog too.
- Go Broken Crow! At WACTAC’s 24 Art-Making Marathon.
- Was just alerted to the existence of Animals Have Problems Too. And F U, Penguin: Telling Cute Animals What’s What - the book. Shark Arm just makes me go Eep! And I never considered myself a bird person, but this photostream boggles the mind.
- Oh, the memories: A place for Punkrockers, Darksiders, Skinheads, Skateboarders, Graffiti Writers and Artists, and anyone else who hung out in the Uptown Minneapolis Youth Scene in the 1980s and early 1990s. Curious to see what sort of book might come out of this.
Won’t have much time when I’m in L.A. but my To Do list contains the usual suspects. Amoeba Records, Giant Robot, some vegan-friendly joints, but I’m open to any suggestions. Any raves/faves?
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WHOA. That Flickr stream is crazy! Clever titles, too. ;)
What area of LA are you going to be staying?
Good question! My friend is house-sitting for someone, and I’ll be staying with her.
Well, personally, my absolute favorite is Follow Your Heart, but it’s kind of far out. Post once you know and I can offer some other suggestions.
You’ll be staying in the lush gardens of the “Azure Coast” otherwise known as Highland Park, in east L.A., at the foot of Mount Washington - smack betwixt Pasadena and downtown. Just for reference.
1) You need to go listen to Jon Brion do his set on Friday night at The Largo (on Fairfax) - he’s well known for having surprise guests like Fiona Apple, Aimee Mann, E from the Eels, and others pop in at random to play with him.
2) The food, and especially the desserts, at The Alcove Cafe is to die for (although not sure how vegan friendly they are). While you’re there, you’re certain to notice the wall that was the album cover for Elliot Smith’s “Figure 8″ - it’s just a couple of blocks away.
3) I’ve enjoyed The Cat & The Fiddle - but that was years ago and I have no idea what the scene is like these days.
4) A walk underneath the Santa Monica Pier is always good people watching.
ah, can’t wait for shellac. are you a bear claw fan? should be an awesome lineup.
Ahhh, Mount Washington, that’s my neck of the woods. I’m just across the way in Lincoln Heights. If you’re here on a Sunday, Flore Cafe in Silverlake has an amazing all you can eat vegan brunch for $10 from 10-3. There’s also everybody’s favorite restaurant “Pure Luck” (though from time to time it can be inconsistent, but it’s cheap, what can you expect). Imagine a little bit nicer Hard Times, but w/more bike nerds, all vegan, and beer on tap. Plus across the way is Scoops who always have 4 flavors of vegan homemade ice cream. Scoops is an LA vegan staple. There’s a ton of other vegan restaurants in the Silverlake area on Sunset not far from where you will be. An amazing vegan raw place called Cru. There’s also a vegan Japanese place in Little Tokyo which is close by, but frankly, I’ve never had anything good there. And it’s expensive. Other people rave about it, I personally would never go back. And more vegan thai restaurants than you can shake a stick at.
Thanks Kevin! That all sounds fantastic.
JA, love Shellac but haven’t given Bear Claw a listen to yet. Will have to do so soon.
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