Every Wednesday at Akbar, nine 'til midnight.

2 drink minimum and a little donation is appreciated ot this group of locals who teach crafts from the kindness of their hearts. They also encourage to BYOS (Bring your own scissors).

Tomorrow night's craft is still TBD but I'm guessing they'll bring their usual supplies for making paper bag puppets.

Make mom happy and make her a pretty frame on May 7th.

All the info on their website and blog.


Akbar
4356 Sunset Blvd.
Silver Lake, 90029
323.665.6810

Labels: bars, DIY, events

My friends Summer School Vampire are playing deep in the valley. Who wants to take the trek with me?

Labels: events, music

Only in L.A. would a flea market call their first weekend outing an opening. Indeed, the folks that bring deal-hunters and trend-makers the Fairfax Flea Market will start another flea market downtown. Every Sunday 9am to 4pm, starting this Sunday, a parking lot gets revitalized. Between Olive and Grand, you'll find the entrance on 8th street. DJs and live bands play throughout the day and typical fair food serves the parched. Admission is only $2. Kids and Seniors are free. A Farmer's Market will also be a part of the usual vendors but keep your leashed doggies out of the food section or risk the consequences of a health code violation. There's more info and booth pictures up on the website southparkfleamarket.com. I wonder if they staged a publicity shoot for the booth pics. How L.A.

Sundays - rain or shine
South Park Flea Market
8th & Grand Parking Lot
Downtown, 90014

Labels: events, food, shopping

There aren't many times I wish I was one of those concert bootleggers who stashes state-of-the-art recording equipment, like omni-directional tiny mics in a baseball cap, to record concerts. Last night I wish I had one of those set-ups.

As part of this month's series of concerts and films, LA Philharmonic hosted Concrete Frequency: Sounds of The City. This is the third curated concert I've gone to at LA Phil and like the other nights, it was a mellow, beautiful experience. My buddies and I were grateful for uber professional lights and sound and in awe of Disney Hall's hidden intimacy. Each guest artist was assigend the task of playing 2 songs and encouraged to explain why those songs spoke to the evening's themes of exploring urban living. The stage was actually backdropped by each guest artist sitting on stage in a dimly lit living room set. The half-circle shape echoed the little amphitheater and the graceful curve of the Hall itself. With the Gehry organ shooting up into the audience in the round, every performer took the spotlight nervously, looking up at their pretty surroundings. With a collection of folk-rock musicians, everyone would have probably been more comfortable at the Troubadour, well, at least familiar. The curated event took singer/songwriters out of their bands and into the prestigious spotlight. Echoing the young crowd, the Disney Hall was filled with jeans rather than tuxes. Each artist's nervous energy only drew us in, listening to the words of radio hits rather than just plugging into our iPods for a morning bus ride. A city theme seems far too easy. Couldn't every indie-rocker explain why that one tune inspired by their last grueling tour is also an anthem about love lost and found in the urban environment? Isn't every rock song a love song written in some metropolis? Moving beyond this hype I was happy to learn that most songs are about what they are about, literally. I may load a mix tape up with all the moody tunes to make my latest lover an emotional wreck, but it's actually refreshing to learn Money Mark's neo-soul ditty "Black Butterfly" is really just about catching a black butterfly. The man mostly know in underground crowds and by Beastie Boys fanatics sat at the piano last night and told a sweet anecdote of chasing butterflies in the abandoned fields of his LA youth. John Doe from X not only played the obvious choice "Los Angeles" but I also learned he likes to write songs about skyscrapers. Zach Rogue from the Rogue Wave's song "Chicago x 12" is really about playing a shitty bar in Chicago 12 times in one year. Like an emo girl's wet dream, you can up the cutie factor simply by letting a shy shoegazer talk about his music. Rogue was especially easy on the ears and I was toe-tapping along to his song currently on the airwaves "Lake Michigan". In lieu of a recording here's my highlights:

Biirdie - A lovely quintet opened the night with "LA is Mars". The lead singer reminds me of every cool guy in High School who quietly doodled in the back of the class and sported an Amnesty International sticker on his Trapper Keeper. Joined by a harmonious group, each cute line like "take the last train to Griffith Park", makes them the newly crowned most crushable LA indie band.

Annie Stela comes from that group of lovely ladies who can't help but share themselves through song. I picture her sitting in her apartment constantly at the keyboard trying out new poetry. While not the most musically challenging, she fits the niche of the story of a girl coming to LA to make it and then years later actually finding happiness. She's got quite the set of pipes and can rock the piano foot pedals in stilettos especially when she played "Fool". She also played the story of her falling in love with LA thanks to walking the dog during the Jacaranda bloooms, even though the audience had to help her with that one. She just knew them as "those big purple flowers." It seems that's what every new Angeleno calls them.

Marc Bianchi was an awfully cute toothache. With a large bass acoustic guitar around his skinny frame he won us all over rocking back and forth, pointy elbows a-soaring. Known for fronting indie band Her Space Holiday he played "The Boys and Girls" a faithful version of the recording under his side project xoxo, panda. He said it was about three people in love and in different parts of the country. Very sweet, indeed.



Zooey Deshcanel brought the movie industry theme to the LA concert. A quirky actress, as well as an accomplished torch singer, she was accompanied by M. Ward on guitar. Not just bringing the movie star reference by being herself she also sang "Lonesome Town" which I don't think was some happy accident. Most of us know it from the Pulp Fiction soundtrack. Zooey and I are roughly the same age so I'm gonna believe we were introduced to the Ricky Nelson hit the same way, although probably not. She's way cooler. She probably knew every word by the time she was ten rocking out on her parents' shag rug with a pair of those oversized headphones. She invoked this little fantasy in my head last night rocking a voluminous white baby doll dress. She then wailed it on a cover of "I Put a Spell On You". Here's a video yanked from myspace:



Sondre Lerche got a loud applause, especially when he acknowledged the crowd behind the stage. It was like his fan club was all sitting there. The Norwegian cutie always puts on a good show. He was especially chatty last night, detailing every bit of his move from Norway to New York City. He played "Wet Ground" from his early album Two Way Monologue and "Minor Detail" from the jazzy 2006 The Duper Sessions.

Inara George from The Bird and the Bee sang for composing legend Van Dyke Parks at the piano. Inara wins best dressed for the night all decked out in a stunning brown floor length gown. They will be releasing an album together later this year and swang a number from it. But it was "Vine Street", the Randy Newman standard favored by Harry Nilsson (they both happen to have been BFFs with Van Dyke Parks) that really had the rest of the artists in a hard act to follow.



Bob Mould rocked his old Husker Du tunes "Thumbtack" and "Surveyors and Cranes". He said he hand't played these in ten years since leaving Austin. They sounded dated and he was underdressed but I felt fortunate to see someone so influential. Plus Mould spoke about dropping out of urban engineering school, which gave validity to the night's theme. Being a current DC native he got a big applause when he claimed, "Don't worry. Things will be better in November". Appealing to the cultured liberal = always a crowd pleaser.

Kyp Malone from TV On The Radio concluded with a long meandering experimental set. I was surprised to see the night take a dark turn full of ambient noise. Malone followed Grizzly Bear's front man and anyone who's gone to a Grizzly Bear concert knows how esoteric those boys can get. Malone's anecdotes were candid and real but I think the majority of the crowd had tuned out after the back to back of more famous faces. People started to take off early, in true urban LA fashion.

Labels: events, music, reviews

I survived Oktoberfest in Torrance last weekend. Next weekend I'll be dining on Brats once again at Nunchux: The Wine Toast VII's Oktoberfest themed event. Santos, the fearless founder behind The Wine Toast, brings the goods to this monthly speakeasy. He pours the wine at Silver Lake Wine and puts on the sommelier hat at the acclaimed AOC Wine Bar. Rest assured, foodies will not outnumber Oktoberfest fans at this wine event. Alternatively, Nunchux brings the best of both parties. Like the tastings at Silver Lake Wine there's bound to be some very delectable wines and beer along with eclectic and boutique pours. In this case the selection is all German. Santos has also made some tasty munchie selections. (He's promised high quality sauerkraut). Food prices stay around $5. Beer and wine is sold by the glass $4-$12. A cover of $4 ($2 if you RSVP in advance). All in all it won't set you back too much. As this is a true speakeasy - Cash Only.

Oh and did I mention the band I Make This Sound will do a live show? Their dreamy rock vibe pairs with a vibrant red quite nicely but I hope some Oktoberfest enthusiast requests the chicken dance.


Sunday, Oct. 14 7:30pm
Nunchux: The Wine Toast VII
2000 N. Figueroa (San Fernando & Figueroa)
Downtown, 90065
RSVP: nunchux@mail.com

Labels: bars, events, food

Great Northern plays a super secret show tonight at Silver Lake Lounge. They're the "special guest" on The Fold's website.
Why: They're hosting some big A&R New Yorkers in our 'hood.
How: Thanks myspace.


Wednesday, Oct. 3 8:30pm
Silver Lake Lounge
2906 Sunset Blvd.
Silver Lake, 90026

Labels: bars, events, music, random

If you love me, you'll go to Tom Neely's art show and buy me this print:


I've had my eye on it ever since his Secret Headquarters show. I think I'm finally ready to start investing in some art. My walls aren't ready, though - don't nearly have enough space in the studio...A girl can dream... Doesn't it look like what Marc Chagall would do if he had a comic?

The show is called Self Indulgent Werewolf and it opens at the Black Maria Gallery this Saturday. Tom's put up some fantastic sneak peek shots on his blog iwilldestroyyou. He's wrapped the gallery in a black werewolf and even made a 6 1/2 foot vinyl toy of the main character from his graphic novel The Blot. There's 3 of the toys if it strikes your fancy and you want to take one home. Go ahead, become a local art investor. Everyone's doing it.




Saturday, Sep. 15 7:00-10:30pm
Tom Neely: Self Indulgent Werewolf Opening Reception
Black Maria Gallery
3137 Glendale Blvd
Atwater Village, 90039

Labels: art, comics, events

Flying: Confessions of a Free Woman is a new documentary series by Jennifer Fox. She asks many questions and tries to get answers by interviewing women around the world. Told in 6 chapters, you can catch all of them at the Aero in Santa Monica this month.

One of the questions: "What is this strange modern female life we are living?"

I contemplate this lazily pretty much every evening watching Sex & The City reruns and trying to figure out if I'm more Carrie than Miranda. Recently I've experimented molding myself into a more girlfriend friendly model by curbing the shoe shopping fantasies and turning to modern sitcom wives, the ones that don't complain about their fuck buddies and might even actually have to budget their paychecks to feed the kids rather than their Chrsitian Dior habit. I don't idolize them for their housewifey-ness. At first glance the little domestic scenes with a laugh track set us all back twenty years where we heteros might as well sleep in separate twin beds.

After years of mind-numbing after-school syndicated bliss I know I've always been attracted to the moxie of say a Carrie Heffernan who get away with criticizing her oafish husband just to end every night with a kiss and a content smile deep in the habit of domesticity. Even the radiating motherhood of a Jill Taylor is admirable as she still glows surrounded by sons and men who act the same age. These women know how to stand their ground in the role of the straight-woman and accept their partners for all their doofy faults. How comforting to know there are pretty women out there for the loveable fuck-ups.

Numerous papers have been written on the role of wives in television and this is not meant to start a debate, it's just where my pop-culture soaked mind goes to when a filmmaker like Fox starts to ask good questions. ..."Why are women's real lives hidden?".... "Why is female sexuality taboo?" ... "Why do Charlotte and Samantha appall and entice me all at once?" ...

That last question is mine.

Jennifer Fox will be at the screening of the first two chapters tonight to answer more questions. In Chapter 1 Fox turns the camera on herself and her two relationships, one an affair with a married South African, and the other her Swiss boyfriend, who she's mot so sure she's really attracted to. Then she glances into the lives of her girlfriends, also middle-aged women, in various significant-other stages from divorce to multiple make-up sex. Fox attempts to define a familiar condition in our modern lexicon - the "commitment-phobe". I can't wait to see the results.

Chapter 2 is all about the Biological Clock. No matter our age I think we can all identify to Fox's predicament. She's lived a life of sexual freedom and discovery but has she missed out on not conceiving, that purely unique woman thing? Not a ground-breaking feminist debate, I know. The chapters seem to simplify it all at first but it is the level of intimacy a documentary that turns the show on itself gets to explore that makes Fox's work seem so intriguing.

Chapters 3 & 4 pick up next week also in double feature mode, and then the following Wednesday concludes the series in Chapters 5 & 6. The Aero hosts more screenings throughout the next few weeks, but taking a Wednesday night off for the next three weeks feels like just the sort of workshop a middle-aged woman would take, so I'm going to try it too. Those baby boomer feminists can't hog all the spotlight nor the Swiss boyfriends.


Wednesday, Sep. 5 7:30pm
Flying: Confessions of a Free Woman
Chapter 1 - No Fear of Flying: Living the Free Life
Chapter 2 - Test Piloting: Tick Tock the Bilogical Clock

Wednesday, Sep. 12 7:30pm
Chapter 3 - Experiencing Turbulance: The Price of Sexual Freedom
Chapter 4 - Crash and Burn: The Things All Women Share

Wednesday, Sep. 19 7:30pm
Chapter 5 - Walking Away From The Wreck: The Secret of Male Power
Chapter 6 - Breaking The Sound Barrier, Female Life Backwards: New Technology for the 'New Woman'


Aero Theater
1328 Montana Ave. at 14th Street
Santa Monica, 90403
$10 general admission
check American Cinematheque for more showtimes

Labels: events, film, television

My kind friend Matt took some fun pictures of Silver Lake's Annual Sunset Junction Street Fair on Saturday. Link to his entire Flickr pool here.




Like always the Junction fell on the hottest day of the year. We sweated out the heat and stayed for lots of bands, fair food and the eclectic round-up of local artisans, shops, sponsors, and people-watching. A highlight of the day was happy hour hosted by Malo. Their patio was an oasis of kind bartenders and top shelf margaritas for $5. Thank you to Steffie at Yelp.com LA for pointing the way and providing drink coupons. The prize wheel over at Amoeba Records' tent was an inventive way to raise money for Hurricane Katrina victims and any spot with shade was a god-send. Just a buck donation and you could walk away with little prize packs courtesy of LA Weekly or just get a taste of what a Price Is Right contestant feels like.






The main stage as expected packed the biggest crowd, especially for Autolux and Blonde Redhead. And like every year technical snafus stalled set times. Sea Wolf took it in stride and was able to get to his new hit -"You're A Wolf" which got everyone and their parasols jumping after slower Bright Eyes sounding tunes.

The community vibe was strongest Saturday night at the smaller Sanborn stage where Morris Day & The Time delighted a diverse crowd. Shirtless gay men and police officers swaying in time to "The Bird" was the picture of harmony. Young and old shared stories with the clueless but impressed on-lookers which mainly started with "You know, the villian from Purple Rain" or "You know, the band from Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back". I included came naively for the spectacle and stayed for the soul.

A couple new restaurants opened their doors just in time for the crowded weekend. Flore is a happy addition to the strip offering vegan cuisine. They make a tasty lemonade and offer many natural elixirs. Even though they served a limited menu I'm sure they'll have the Jicama taco roll-up creations I tried on a daily basis. Full of hummus and deligthfully seasoned the faux tacos are a welcome alternative to the dried out tempeh your veggie friends probably try to stuff down your throat.

Sunset Junction has another coffee house now too. Intelligentsia Coffee threw quite the opening bash on Friday night, thanks to jugs of sweet wine from the Silver Lake Wine gang. It sure got the Street Fair weekend off to a bang as many hipster hangovers continued to be nursed well into Sunday. Intelligentsia makes good use of the space next to the Silver Lake Conservatory of Music that has been boarded up for as long as I can remember. It's a yuppie's wet dream for sure to be able to sample gourmet coffee of varying quality grades and then pay up to $120/pound for the finest blend (plus it was plugged on Daily Candy.) Too upscale for the 'hood? Time will tell. But a decent cup of coffee is never unwelcome especially when they offer so many Direct Trade and shade grown varieties.

Dogs barking and happily exhausted by the end of the night I still am glad to live in a neighborhood that hosts one of the funnest events of the summer. Yes, I yearn for the days when it was a truly donation based event. The $15 entry fee this year (aka MANDATORY DONATION wtf?) kept the locals out for at least one of the days. Many complained about the defeat of the Street Fair's original intent to be a community building event. A message to the Sunset Junction Neighborhood Alliance: Please pass on to your organizer that if you truly want to continue promoting a neighborhood event you must treat the people in the neighborhood nicely. They're the people that you meet each day. As big as the Junction is it sends everyone living off of Sunset away for the weekend when they should be mingling with Latinos and Leather Daddies in the spirit the event intended 27 years ago. A lowered donation for residents is mandatory. Or give up your non-profit front all together and come out to LA as the concert promoter you want to be. Or make it a charity event worth the cost of admission. Or introduce a weekend pass deal. Or better publicize the free wristbands offered at Tsunami Coffeehouse for the residents living right on Sunset Blvd. Or let everyone in half price during the early part of the day and make the Eastside invaders who come to see the headlining acts pay the full cover price. This is what we call compromising, which after all the Silver Lake Improvement Association's petitioning this year the Junction still did not know the meaning of the word.

Like so many popular summer events around LA, the Junction has outgrown her britches. The new location layout where the majority of vendors sat on Santa Monica Blvd. was disorientating at first but on the bright side allowed breathing room further East on Sunset for the daily traffic. The local shop owners along Sunset were cut out of the action but provided dinner & drink specials, sales, Air-Conditioning, and after parties. Bingo the wiener dog at cute store Pull My Daisy was especially friendly when I saw him early in the day. The gang at Thinkspace Gallery not only hosted live painters and a flashy gold tee-pee but a couple doors down sold homemade cupcakes with a smile. Overall everyone was cashing in and acting neighborly, just as they have in past years. In the words of much more cliched man "They may take our mandatory donations but they will never take our freedom."

Labels: events, local, reviews

The Finches are a folk/alt-rocky duo from the Bay Area who'll win your heart with a gentle sound and pretty lyrics. They'll make their nest all this month at Bordello (formerly Little Pedro's Bar) every Tuesday night. What sets this duo apart from the rest? Aaron Morgan plays a mean acoustic for a ginger. Carolyn Pennypacker Riggs was featured in ReadyMade Magazine for her crafty coin purse holds your keys on your wrist thing. It's no wonder with just a couple independently produced albums under their collective belt The Finches have an ever-growing fan base. I'm sure they'll bring a much needed breath of North Cali fresh air to the hot downtown scene. Other local bands start the shows around 9:00pm.


The Finches
Tuesdays, Aug. 14, 21, 28, 10:00pm
Bordello Bar
901 E. 1st Street
Downtown LA, 90012
$10

Labels: events, music

Patti Smith plays a free show this Thursday on the Santa Monica Pier. Weird, right? I thought Santa Monica's Twilight Dance Series were for the washed-up bands found in yuppie record collections (no offense Arrested Development - who played last week). Indeed the original punk goddess/poet will be there in all her androgynous skinny glory. As far as lanky, scraggly punk heroes go I would argue Smith blows Joey Ramone out of the water. So pack up early for the Westside and let's start the debate this Thursday evening. If nothing else you'll get a pretty sunset and maybe a chance to grab a smooch on the Ferris wheel.


An Evening with Patti Smith
Thursday, Aug. 16 7:30pm
Colorado Ave. & Ocean Walk
Santa Monica, 90405
parking info

Labels: events, freebies, music

This all ages event rages from 6:00pm to 6:00am. The FREE all night happening features ambient music galore, video projections, and a slew of DJs. Bring chairs, blankets and pillows to lie out on the cement and experience all the magic.

If you're not in a festival state of mind drop by to find out what Farm Lab is all about. They're probably one of the most important cultural groups in the City of LA. Since the shutdown of the downtown Corn Fields, they've continued exploring sustainable eco living in an urban environment. Farm Lab's latest community outreach projects include making garden boxes, they call them Ag Bins, for Skid Row so the homeless population can grow their own food and even beautify their street corners. Farm Lab Under Spring provides an art space in hope of community building and cultural change. Located under a bridge on the LA River, every person who visits the site grasps what a truly diverse environment LA is and the worth of what it means to protect it.




Here's the list of the performers for Saturday night/ Sunday morning:

DUBLAB DJS & FRIENDS

Hoseh (Headspace, KXLU)
Morpho
Frosty
Ale
MatthewDavid
Part Time Punks DJ Michael Stock
J.Mendez (Cytrax/Sandwell District)
Farzad Moghaddam (WRAS, Atlanta)
Farbod Kokabi (WRAS, Atlanta)

LIVE SETS UNDER THE STARS

Dntel
Languis
Tropic of Cancer
smgsap

LIVE NATURE SOUND DUETS CURATED BY CARLOS NINO

Mia Doi Todd and Andres Renteria
Adam Rudolph and Ralph "Buzzy" Jones
Miguel Atwood-Ferguson and Peter Jacobson
Adventure time (Daedelus & frosty)
Carlos Nino & Gaby Hernandez

PROJECTIONS PROVIDED BY

Carolina Chaves and Ben Loiz
the Labrat Matinee
the Masses


Saturday, Aug. 4 6:00pm - 6:00am
Tonalism
Farm Lab Under Spring
1745 N. Spring St.
Los Angeles, 90012

Labels: environmental, events, freebies, music

More stuff soon to come from this year's Comic Con. Now that I've been de-virginized, I'm still a little overwhelmed, my feet are still a little sore, but thankful to have been a part of it all. Through the seas of Storm Troopers and children the biggest deal this year at San Diego's Annual International Comic Con was these giant promotional bags from Warner Bros. I guess a couple hundred were given out each day. They held everyone's stuff and they blocked traffic at every crosswalk. By day 3 this crafty lady made her perfect ode to the Con:


The Storm Troopers got nothing on her. [image from Flickr by gruntzooki.]

Labels: comics, events, random

New band Bat For Lashes has too many interpretations on their name to get clever here so I'll cut to the chase. This UK lass is Natasha Khan and her girl group goes by Bat For Lashes. Her breakthrough single "What's A Girl To Do?" proves she's the next London It Girl on the verge of picking fights with Amy Winehouse and trying to drink Lady Sovereign under the table. Channeling The Ronettes girl group sound with storytelling I also find this single a mix of Charlotte Gainsbourg's breathiness meets the sincerity of Lily Allen with the punky-darkness of The Scanners thrown in. The video is slightly intriguing. Who doesn't love a bicycle tracking shot and Donnie Darko references? Animal masks are feeling overused though. Didn't Sassy magazine do a fashion spread like this 9 years ago?

Bat for Lashes is touring the U.S. right now. Catch her before the hype sends her and her all girl band to more sold out festivals. They'll be at Spaceland this Tuesday night.


Tuesday, Jul. 31 8:30pm
Bat For Lashes
Spaceland
1717 Silver Lake Blvd.
Silver Lake, 90026
$12

Labels: events, music, videos

Tonight Chango hosts Anarchy Jordan. He'll unveil from his bag of tricks folk music, political sing-alongs, and incendiary videos mocking everything from global warming to GW. Expect a free exchange of stencil art techniques, anti-war graffiti and a live free or buy trying attitude. A good time is sure to be had by all or at least a healthy debate over your nightly chai lattes.



ANARCHY JORDAN presents YOUR VIOLENT DESIRES
LIVE LIVE LIVE LIVE (you decide how to pronounce it)
with his MUSIC, MOVIES, AND MORE

Friday, Jul. 20th 9:00pm
Chango Coffee House
1600 Echo Park Ave.
Echo Park, 90026

hey young fella, dada is not an art movement.
Be there or be viciously circular.

Labels: events, music, politics, videos

There are two new books I will hole myself up in the house with and read cover to cover this weekend: #1 (obviously) Harry Potter And The Deathly Hollows. #2 The Blot by Tom Neely. Neely is my new graphic novel crush. The Blot is an existential nightmare living in the form of an ink blot that plagues the cartoon protagonist's daily life panel to panel. He simply wakes up to a blot that will not go away. It pesters and festers in everything from food to taking over people's faces. The graphic style is comparable to old timey comic strips of the depression era as well as surrealist Magritte paintings. And since the comic is "silent" (no talking bubbles) one can focus on the subtleties of the narrative and the hand crafted vintage style. The complete graphic novel as well as the serialized versions are now available at Secret Headquarters and they're holding a reception for Tom Neely tomorrow night. Neely is taken but I can still get my book signed.


Friday, Jul. 20th 8:00-10:00pm
The Blot opening reception with author Tom Neely
Secret Headquarters
3817 Sunset Blvd.
Silver Lake, 90026


Also, check out Tom Neely's ode to 1940s propaganda cartoons - his political satire "Brother Can You Spare a Job?".

Labels: books, comics, events, videos

No I am not rallying for celebrity chef Tom Collichio's new restaurant, although I'm sure the opening of Craftsteak this weekend will be fabulous...


What is the hottest ticket in town is FELT CLUB XL this Sunday. The Winter Craft Fair was a huge success for the LA Craft Club that could and their summer one has gained so much attention from the community at large I'm sure it will be even more packed than last time. Show up super early if you wanna get in on the door freebies. Only 250 SWAG bags will be at the door with little freebies from Subversive Cross Stitch and local sponsors including Reform School and Echo Park fave eatery Masa - I think in the form of gift certificates, not pizza slices. But if you do get hungry Auntie Em's Kitchen will supply the noshes. I couldn't be happier about Auntie Em's. Once just my stop for red velvet cupcakes after tennis matches in Eagle Rock now the treats are showing up all over the city. The uber-trendy downtown Edison Bar even has her cupcakes on the menu. If you've never indulged, the perfect cream cheese frosting will make you forget about any disappointing pastry experience you've ever had.

But enough about the sweets, how about the sweet vendors? There's too many to mention. Over 70 from around the country! Craft blogger fave Michelle Caplan will be there with her gorgeous collages. Local illustrators Jordan Crane and Martin Cendreda will most likely be sketching up a storm. Craft Magazine will provide a booth of craft classes. The schedule includes yarn spinning, gocco tutorials, needle felting, charm jewelry design. It's a bonafide craft-nerd paradise. The vintage culture deity himself Charles Phoenix MCs the entire event. That's him hugging Felt Club's mascot Gluey Gluerson. Adorable, no?

Sunday July 15th 11:00am - 7:00pm
Felt Club XL Summer
Ukrainian Cultural Center
4315 Melrose Avenue
LA 90029
$1 Donation at the door
Street parking or $2 lot on Vermont Ave.

Labels: design, DIY, events

The Silver Lake Neighborhood Council (SLNC) is holding its annual issues meeting and election kick-off this upcoming Saturday at the Bellevue Recreation Center. If you've ever been curious to what goes down during these meetings Saturday morning you'll get a good chance to meet the major players around our fair neighborhood, observe the election process, and get to know your neighbors' gripes at the open mic.

I've never been disappointed at these meetings. The turnout is always a batch of concerned citizens and passionate people from all walks of life. The common ground is they walk the sidewalks of Silver Lake with the rest of us. The best aspect of the Council is that it is a sounding board for the neighborhood. All concerns are taken seriously and everyone is encouraged to get their voice heard by attending meetings and voting. I've found that just being bale to observe and be another neighbor in a an empty seat is a good statement to start. So SLNC is luring us more apathetic folks in with a FREE breakfast at 9am.

The Issues meeting begins at 10am. After a presentation regarding Emergency Preparedness, it's an open mic for anyone to step up and let the SLNC Governing Board know what are the important issues that SLNC should be addressing. Then it's all followed by the SLNC Annual Election Kick-Off. You can meet all the candidates and maybe dream of throwing your hat in the race.


Saturday, July 14th
Speak Out Silver Lake! SLNC Annual Issue Meeting and Election Kick-Off
Bellevue Recreation Center
826 Lucile Avenue
9:00 am - Breakfast with the Board
10:00 am - Speak Out Silver Lake! Emergency Preparedness and open mic
11:30 am - SLNC Election Kick-Off

Labels: events, local, politics

The hipsters know no bounds to the lengths they will go to prove the LA art and music scene is the place to be. This Thursday kicks off the Indie 103.1 sponsored free summer concerts at the Hammer Museum. More than just a place to schmooze up the cuties and the caterers these events bring out the spirit of a city in the summer - warm nights, free concerts, and courtyard canoodling. This year's lineup each Thursday night features some of LA's favorites and rising indie stars. Inaugurating the night is one of my new faves Great Northern. The boy-girl-boy-girl band evokes the moody melodious rock that's so popular today standing apart with sophisticated lyrics and indie bread simplicity. I play their single "Home" all day long. The breathy vocals, gentle orchestration and rocky drums that chime in at all the right parts equal one great summer anthem. Great Northern shares the bill with Foreign Born, another LA rock band who's gaining quite the UK following. On the walls of the Hammer is Eden's Edge, an exhibit of 15 LA artists' work from the past decade. The work can all be categorized as highly personal, mixed media fantasies.

Thursday, Jul. 8th 8:00-11:00pm
Also I Like to Rock at The Hammer with Foreign Born and Great Northern
Hammer Museum
10899 Wilshire Blvd.
Westwood, 90024
310.443.7000
FREE

Museum Parking $3 after 6:30pm on Thursdays.


Upcoming lineups:

Jul. 12th
The Pity Party & The Little Ones

Jul. 19th
Castledoor & Fields

Jul. 26th
Sea Wolf & Midnight Movies

Labels: art, events, freebies, music

Meet comic book artists John Pham. Video gamer girls love him and you can too. His superbly hip drawings have been seen in his fan favorite Epoxy. While John has not updated his online portfolio since 1995 he has been working on a new sketchbook-style collection called Sublife. Pre-release copies will be available at Secret Headquarters tonight and John Pham might sign it when he stops by around 8:00pm. His original work will hang on the walls until July 15th. It wouldn't be a Secret Headquarters party without the beer and ChaShaw so get your drink on and your browsing on in our hood's finest comic shop. I've named the 4100 Bar for the unofficial afterparty.


Friday, Jun. 15 8:00-10:00pm
John Pham reception
Secret Headquarters
3817 Sunset Blvd.
Silver Lake, 90026

Labels: bars, comics, events

Night Hawks presents it's monthly late night art extravaganza this Monday, June 18th. This month the theme involves technology and experimentations with artificial and/or mechanical elements. Like always, Night Hawks showcases its theme across genres and art. Basically this Monday will be a techno dance party like none other. And there will be video games. Don't miss these emerging artists:


Night Hawks is honored to bring to the party Laura Escude (Los Angeles) - A classically trained violinist who works with a variety of software, all controlled by MIDI devices such as the UC-33e and a MIDI glove. Found sounds, sampling, and the violin affected by different types of hardware all make up her body of work going back 20 years.


Organ Music of the Organ Corporation (San Francisco) - The music collective takes their name from a 1970s organ manufacturer and draws from the traditions of free jazz and musique concrete. Night Hawks' plan to showcase their noise elements and abstractions of frequencies in the unique Bootleg ambiance.


DSS Improv (Los Angeles) is a trio of improvisational electro-acoustic musicians. FM transmitters tie together their mixer feedback sessions, DIY circuitry, amplified viola and audience involvement all "to diffuse the notion of control amongst the group and audience". I can't picture a better setting for this experimentation than the high-caliber crowds Night Hawks draws in.

[image from art-rash.com]


Orgone Resonator by Samuel Partal and Damien Johanson (San Francisco) is an installation in which audience members may be inserted into the resonating chamber to experience the musical performance as part of the sculpture. Partal and Johanson both multimedia artists explore the controversial theories of Wilhelm Reich. (I had to wikipedia that one.) The notion of Orgones - a theorized energy source responsible for neuroses, rain and sexuality - is quite intriguing.


"Burlap I-IV" by Philip Stearns - Another Cal Arts alumni makes his mark on the circuit-bending community by continuing his installation. Burlap combines sculpture and circuitry where each piece produces tones, sequencers, and dynamically behaving oscillators. The natural element of the burlap material is a beautiful contradiction to the notion of circuitry as something cold and calculated.


Electroacoustic Installation by Cooper Baker - Straight from the Cal Arts faculty, Baker currently manages the school's Music Technology department. Circuit Bending fans have probably seen his work at REDCAT and the LA Circuit Bending Festival. Cooper brings his diverse background and knowledge from software writing to photography to the Bootleg for this one night only where he'll creates a sound-art installation/ multimedia work of art.


Aaron Myers, a recent USC grad, has always been fascinated with video games, including information visualization, artificial life and generative image-making. TorrentRaiders was his MFA project - an arcade stylization of bit-torrent waves. You can also go play his live action video game Mobzombies before the arcade madness hits Monday. He'll be showing a new 2-D piece with light patterns that react and self-generate.

[image from Flickr]





Volum (UK, Berlin, Detroit, Los Angeles) of the world renowned electro duo Volsoc brings his proclaimed "breakdance music for aliens". Playing the night's DJ will be Jean-Paul Bondy rocking robot beats and a slew of surprises. See jbondy.com - the man's also quite the accomplished animator.

[image from properlychilled.com]


Night Hawks presents Hawktronics
Monday, Jun. 18th 10:00pm
Bootleg Theater
2220 Beverly (Just West of Alvarado)
Echo Park, 90057
$10 cash only

Labels: art, events, music, Nighthawks, performances

This Saturday night it's like an old fashioned ice cream social except with beer and bruise stories and probably the majority of the peeps will be on skates. It's still as good time as ever to get up close and personal with your favorite Dolls, especially since the league schedule is on hiatus. Not only is it the break in the Derby season but the LA Dolls have recently lost their track space at the Little Tokyo Mall. After every event had hastles with city code inspectors, the man has finally shut them down. They're still looking for partners to come in and help especially those of the deep pockets and real estate know-how. Please come out and bring your Daddy Warbucks. Have no fear, the first match of the season will resume July 21 no matter what. Rain, shine, or inner-city council bullshit, the Dolls will get their bruise on this summer. See the LA Derby Dolls website for official messages and updates.

Here's a recent promo video from the Dolls of last season's Greatest "Hits":





Host bar for the 1970s themed event, The Airliner seems like quite the party space. Sports fans will appreciate their wide selection of TV sets near the multiple bars. They haven't updated their calendar since March, so I don't know if we should expect their usual line-up of classic rock inspired hip-hop house bands. I expect hot wings and PBR served by tattooed. Try to dress up.


Saturday, Jun. 9 8:30pm
Derby Dolls Sleazy '70s Social
18 over show, $12 cover
The Airliner
2419 N. Broadway
Lincoln Heights, 90031

Labels: bars, events

One can't really say that filmmaker Guy Maddin has burst onto the mainstream scene. His work still falls heavily in the esoteric film club category. Every once in a while chances pop up for the general public to be awed by his one-of-a-kind work. In 2000 critics took notice when his short film Heart of The World, actually a promo for the Toronto Film Festival, preceded the film festival screenings.




I was introduced to his work in film school with the unparalleled Careful. Like all of Maddin's films, Careful was shot on a single sound stage in his native Winnepeg, Canada. It hearkens back to the days of early European films. Maddin still uses silent film techniques, like tableau style acting, in-camera effects, forced perspective, and hand colors the film. An homage to the German Mountain Film genre of the 1920s, Careful veers off its narrative track into a much more dark place examining censorship, sexual repression, and incest. The color scheme is haunting, the faces of the actors unforgettable; in fact every film of Maddin I've seen I've walked away with several strong images in my mind and been unable to shake them. I dare anyone to copy the vampire's kiss in Dracula: Pages from a Virgin's Diary (2002) or Isabella Rosellini's beer filled glass legs from The Saddest Music in The World (2003).




Now Maddin has a new masterpiece, and his first film shot outside of Winnipeg. Taking liberties with his own childhood, Maddin has re-created a silent film era spectacle. Brand Upon the Brain is meant to be a live show, with a narrator, full orchestra, and Foley artist all on stage while the movie plays along. The show comes to the Egyptian Cinematheque this weekend. So far two celebrity narrators have jumped on board: cult -fave '60s vampire babe Barbara Steele on Friday and Daniel Handler (aka Lemony Snickett) on Saturday. More will be announced soon on the Brand Upon The Brain myspace page. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity as DVDs don't do these films the justice. Abstract and antique, melodramatic for sure, messy and meticulous all at once; once you've seen a Guy Maddin film you won't really be the same, or at least not have the same affinity for color talkies.


Brand on The Brain Live Show
Egyptian Cinematheque
6712 Hollywood Blvd.
Hollywood, 90028
Advance Tickets: $25
General Admission at the door: $30, $22 Students & Seniors

Friday, Jun. 8 7:30pm - Narrated by Barbara Steele

Saturday, Jun. 9 7:30pm - Narrated by Daniel Handler
10:00pm - Narrator TBA

Sunday, Jun. 10 7:30pm - Narrator TBA

Monday, Jun. 11 7:30pm - Narrator TBA

Labels: events, film

I knew Blonde Redhead were touring a lot this summer but I am pleased as punch to know they will be making a stop in our own backyard. Sunset Junction is Silver Lake's annual street fair where local vendors and musicians takeover Sunset Blvd. for what usually falls on the hottest weekend of the summer. This year's heatwave is Aug. 18-19. The main stage on Saturday will see such great bands like The Parson Redheads, Autoloux, Seawolf, Blonde Redhead and Ben Harper. As of today the headliners for Sunday night are still TBA. Past year's bands have included The New York Dolls, Rilo Kiley, X, Sleater Kinney, Elliot Smith, and Beck to give you an idea.

Who would be your dream Sunset Junction headliner?

Labels: events, local, music

A guy friend of mine told me once he knows girls dress up for other girls (versus the fellas) and I couldn't agree more. Ladies, start picking out your outfit now - competition should be fierce come Saturday night.


All the beautiful hipster ladies ban together this Saturday. Fight the local sausage fest and join in the bunches of fun all for a worthy cause. Hang The DJs host their 4th Annual All Girls Benefit Dance Party at The Echo. Proceeds will go to The Downtown Woman's Center who have been helping find homes for women of Skid Row since 1978.

There will be a slew of female DJs, live music, Cory Kennedy shenanigans, cocktails, raffles, free manicures, free haircuts, and naturally, free ice cream from the Heartschallenger Ice Cream truck...

I'm especially stoked to see Catherine Campion take the stage with Hearts of Palm UK. She'll be on cello. They'll all probably be wearing something one-of-a-kind. You can catch their pretty tunes at the Silverlake Lounge tomorrow night as well. They go on at 10:00pm.

...About the dance party? Okay, fine. Your boyfriend can come too.

Saturday, May 19 8:00pm
Hang the DJ's All Girls Benefit Dance Party
The Echo
1822 Sunset Blvd.
Echo Park, 90026
18 year olds and up
only $10

Labels: events, local, music

In the book tour tradition, a very special lady graces cities across the country telling anecdotes and promoting the acheivement of her new book. Miranda July is indeed one special lady. Long before she was grabbing up indie film awards for Me And You And Everyone We Know she was holding unique lectures as part of her personal credo project to create art everywhere all the time. She pretty much does everything that requires any creativity and does it with open arms for the world to share. Her stop at the Hammer this evening to share her collection of short stories should be sweet and special. If you can't make it early for a good seat just peruse her new website for the book No one belongs here more than you. You'll get a taste of her wacky exuberance and like me you'll begin to wonder, why haven't I used my refrigerator for a white board before?

Tuesday, May 15 7:00pm
Miranda July reading
Hammer Museum
10899 Wilshire Blvd.
Westwood, 90024
310.443.7000
Free

Labels: art, books, events, freebies

Don't forget:
LE CIRQUE DU TITTY! TITTY! BANG! BANG!
Night Hawks' monthly art event has quite the full lineup sure to satisfy all the freaks at the freak show.




LIVE MUSIC BY:
D Numbers -- Santa Fe, NM
We Drew Lightning -- Santa Fe, NM
HowardAmb -- Project Runway's Santino Rice loves these guys and so should you.
Catherine Campion -- A veteran of stage & screen and the most delightful person you'll meet.

LIVE ART BY:
Ashley Huizenga (video)
Christina Amezquita (photography)
Shon Kim (video/drawing)
Andy Ayala (mixed media)
Annie Terrazzo (mixed media)
LD Grant (painting)
Teresa Moore (painting)
Portland, OR Free Music Project (video)
Nichole Navar (video)



LIVE PERFORMANCE BY:
Gumby Girl (contortionist)
John Monastero (clown)
Nameer Khadi (juggler)
Zoe Nissam (fire)
Mimi Moss (fire)

BURLESQUE BY:
Bobby Burlesque (burlesque)
Lolita La Vey (burlesque)
Lola Ramona (burlesque)


All appearing at Night Hawks
This Monday May 14th
10:00pm
Bootleg Theater
2220 Beverly Blvd.
LA 90057
$10 donation

Labels: events, Nighthawks, performances

I wish more concert posters were as literal as this. Has a great old school feel to it, don't you think?

Labels: events, music

Night Hawks is proud to present another band from the Santa Fe, New Mexico High Mayhem family. Formerly known as Derail, We Drew Lightning takes instrumentation to new highs. Loud feedback, dreamy vocals, and even an old school light show follow them on tour these next few months. Art geeks and rockers alike will be deeply left in their powerful wake. As has become Night Hawks' signature, we pack the stage with the highest quality musicians who have the most heart. This Monday's circus will not stop buzzing once these guys leave the stage.

We Drew Lightning
performing at Night Hawks
Monday, May 14th 10:00pm
Bootleg Theater

Also at...

Pehrspace, Echo Park
Friday, May 18th

The Smog Shop, San Diego
Saturday, May 19th

Labels: events, music, Nighthawks

Paul Groetzinger, Ben Wright, Brian Mayhall make up the members of D Numbers, the experimental band that's gathered quite the local following in Santa Fe, NM. They now bring their signaturely singular sound and lovey-dovey energy to the rest of the west. Catch their only LA appearance at Night Hawks next Monday.

Groetzinger, aka DJ Feathericci, handles his drumset with a natural grace and keen ease missing from most line-ups. And he spins a mean turntable. Mayhall on lead guitar puts any music school grad to shame and has been known to dabble in keyboards and experimental processing. Wright completes the neo-wall of sound and writes music and unique beats. You'll have to see the men in action to find out what they're really made of. A guess? Slugs, snails, mad beats, puppy dog tails.

With the backdrop of a burlesque circus behind them, this trio will bring a kind breath of fresh air to our California heatwave. Be sure to grab their new CD before the rest of the touring darlings snatch 'em up.

Monday, May 14th
D Numbers
10:00pm

Labels: events, music, Nighthawks

Sunday evening Night Hawks alum Pedra Furmall shows her colorful figurative and plant studies along with photographer Yoshihiro Makino and painter Eszter Csaki in a mellow coffee house. Pedra and I cased the joint a couple weeks ago. I can finally say I've had a decent cup of espresso on the East Side. Atwater Village's Kaldi Coffee roasts all their own organic beans on the premises. The quiet easy-going vibe makes me think the laptop workers could actually get some work done in here too. With a couple small shops to the side and an authentic Cuban cafe a couple doors down, the old strip of Glendale Blvd. is finally living up to its Boho potential.

A reception with wine cheese and DJs will be held in Kaldi's courtyard. The art will adorn the walls until May 27th.

Sunday, May 6 6:00-10:00pm
GREEN art opening and rece