Happy Thanksgiving!

Come Play With Us

I think the Alexandria Hotel on downtown LA is one of the creepiest
places ever. Wandering around the halls during Art Walk last night was
exciting. However, I think I only felt safe because I knew that just
outside, it was crowded, familiar and safe. If I was walking around a
place like this in some podunk town (at night, in the middle of a
thunder storm) it would be another story entirely.

It was kind of like being in The Shining with all of the long narrow
hallways, decrepit ballrooms and bars.

I was convinced I'd see the little girls from the movie.

Rosario Sylvan Hearts Mayor Hawthorne

I heard a song playing on the radio or something early this summer, but didn't have the luxury of the Shazam application (or a fancy phone which would have said application) when I heard it. I just committed it to memory as being one of the best hip hop songs I'd heard in a while and knew I'd one day find it.

Thankfully kcrw started playing the song in September, so I finally figured it out. Mayer Hawthorne's "Just Ain't Gonna Work Out" is beyond rad and even better live. Lazy me was saved a trip to, well just about anywhere, when he came to my town to play at Saint Rocke back in October. Lucky me even got free tickets for knowing the Mayer Hawthorne generator. Take your middle name and the street you grew up on and you're good to go.

What a show. The County was on point! If you like hip hop, soul and just good music, go see Mayer Hawthorne and the County!


Swoon!

So sometimes Hermosa doesn't suck. What a relief.

Still in the Game: Parades and the Elysian Park Totem Pole

Not unlike Keith Sweat. Yes. It's been a long time. Apparently I'm not cut out for blogging on a regular basis. Too bad.

Today was a day of random, pleasant surprises.

It started out with a gluttonous breakfast at Pete's Cafe. Thank you to Elvis for being the inspiration: French toast with peanut butter, bananas, topped with chocolate chips and served with a side of strawberry jam. Yummers!

That was going to settle slow, so it was time to take a walk and check out some buildings downtown. We were sidetracked by a Panamanian Independence Day parade. Fun!





Destination 1: The Bradbury Building

Destination 2: Elysian Park. While looking at this eyesore of public art, we spotted a totem pole on a hill in the distance. Well, it looked like a totem pole. Exploration time!

Ewwwww....

We knew we were in the right place with this sign marker:


No joke totem!



A closeup of the materials.

Apparently, it had just been installed this morning and we had coincidentally arrived during the opening. This party spread went beyond just cheese and crackers. Who wants to hold an apple when you can just eat one strung from a tree?



There were 2 other pieces which had been there a year or so. I think one of the more interesting parts was being surprised by a dude who just seemed to come up from a well vegetated ravine. It looked like he was part of it. Not, like, covered in leaves and camo, but just, well, part of the landscape.




The whole thing was awesome. I really felt like I'd stepped into another world. I'm happy to know that artsy kids really do produce art. I just hope the totem stays for a while...