Runyon Canyon

I love finding gems in LA, and one of my favorite LA escapes is Runyon Canyon. Hidden in the hills above Hollywood, the canyon is a moderate hike with some steep terrain. About two thirds of the hike is paved and the rest is raw, unbridled, dirt trails. The reward at the summit is unobstructed sweeping views of the Los Angeles basin from the Pacific to the Griffith Observatory to the Palos Verdes Peninsula and to Downtown LA.

Sunset with my brother Jon.

A trail overlooking the hollywood hills homes of the rich & famous.

And when you're done, there is an "honor" bar with snacks!

I don't know why all my pics are blurry!

Had a little reunion with some high school friends, and here's a blurry picture of all of us. From left to right, Jon, Steve, Grace, Chris, Panney, Alex, Amanda, Ben, Patty, James and Renita. Go Titans!

Cobras & Matadors with Roy & Holly

It's always nice to get spanish style tapas at Cobras & Matadors on Beverly Dr. because you can bring your own wine and there is no corkage fee. I love that. The money you save on wine almost pays for the dinner itself. Great to see our old friends Roy and Holly who have transplanted to NYC. Here's a blurry pic (very dark in there) of Holly and Renita...much better to look at them close up...sorry Roy. On a side note, can't wait for the proprietor of Cobras and Matadors, Steven Arroyo, to hurry up and open up his new french bistro restaurant in the Arts' district, titled Church and State, on the ground floor of the Bisuit Company Lofts. Word is that it's opening around March '08.

Maya & Kevin are Engaged!

On a beautiful Christmas evening, Maya and Kevin officially announced their engagement.

Welcome to the family Kevin!

Christmas Eve in our Loft!

We were fortunate this year to see almost all of our family and friends on both sides of the family. It was a fun Christmas Eve here with Bubur Ayam (chicken porridge), a turkey roasted by grandpa, and of course, this season's smash hit, Guitar Hero. Here's a smattering of pics and faces...



Guitar Hero tryouts.

Two unwitting Rock Stars!

Los Angeles State Historic Park

Most people don't realize this, but there is a 32 acre park being slowly transformed just north of Chinatown by the Los Angeles State Historic Parks Bureau. A final design for the park has been chosen, and the contract was awarded to Hargreaves. I just walked the trails today to see the space in raw form...it will be very different in a year or two. California State Historic Parks

Some wild flowers which are growing in the northern end of the 32 acre park.


A view of downtown from the park.


Some new landscaping put in for the park renovation project.

Jay & Colleen back in LA!

I only know one person who directly served our country in the Iraq war. When I think about the Iraq war, I also think about my good friend Jay Baker. Here's Jay and his lovely pregnant wife Colleen who were back for the holidays. He is currently stationed in Seoul, Korea. Hopefully, they will be moving back to LA for good this fall.

Point Break -- Creative Live Performance

Went to see this without any expectations...wow! What a trip. I can't even explain what this is all about in words. Basically, if you've seen the movie "Point Break," it's a live version of the movie set in a seedy downtown bar (Charlie O's at the Alexandria Hotel), with a rudimentary set, and lots of scantily clad surfer dudes running around with a couple hyperactive ladies....and the kicker is...Keanu Reeves' character in the movie, Johnny Utah, an undercover FBI agent, is played by an audience member!! They have a casting call at the beginning, and whoever wins by hand clap popular vote gets to be Johnny Utah! The thought is, Keanu Reeves is such a bad actor that anyone from the audience can do his lines. The worse it gets, the better it gets. Anyways, lots of laughs in this hilarious, low budget, spoof on a classic 80's surf/bank robber/Keanu film. Further affirmation that Downtown LA is at the cutting edge...if you've got a free Friday or Saturday night, go check it out...see above for info.

Ernie gets a new toy!

Ernie's first lobster dinner. He was so excited to get his lobster chew toy that he was really obedient. Below, you can see his snaggletooth!

UCLA upsets Cal in the Last 3 minutes!

I have never been to a tailgate party. I know, really sad. But, today was my first tailgate, and I got to cheer on my adopted school UCLA (I was a resident at Harbor-UCLA, so, I'm kind of related)



After lifting two crates full of about 200 beers and lots of ice, we are all passed out. Seriously.



Renita pounding the last beer before getting into the Rose Bowl.



The UCLA and Cal crew cheering their respective teams on! UCLA intercepts the ball on the Cal 30 with 3 minutes left to win 30 to 21. If Cal didn't turnover the ball though, they most likely would have at least kicked a field goal to take UCLA 24-23...



But that didn't happen!

Sweet Art Show

The nighttime art show entitled "Slow Dancing" by David Michalek at the Music Center courtyard tonight was one of the most unique and soul stirring art shows I've ever witnessed. There were four 16 foot screens onto which were projected high definition images of dance artists from around the world. The catch is, only five seconds of dance from each artist is filmed in hi-def, and then played in super slo-mo so that those 5 seconds translate into 10 minutes of "almost still" dancing. It was a trip to see the purposeful and graceful movements of these dancers slowly evolving as still lifes. There was something primitively beautiful about the different types of dance being portrayed by all kinds of people. At the same time, it was haunting and surreal to see these 10 foot tall people moving at a snail's pace on screens. I almost felt like these were dancer's "trapped" in a cage of sorts, while we voyeuristically observed their movements. Another great message was that all people, no matter, race, creed, or gender, have expressed themselves throughout time to the highest degree through dance. It almost seemed like "dance" was a condensed history of human experiences based on culture and tradition. Heck, there was an asian pregnant woman jumping around in slo-mo doing things I have never done on the dance floor. To top it all off, KCRW's very own Jason Bentley (an idol of mine) kept the momentum going...although we were a little disappointed to note that he was using Traktor DJ and was not mixing, or even beat matching many of the songs. No matter, I was fortunate enough to shake his hand and tell him that he "inspired me". It was a sweet art show.

LCD Soundsystem & Arcade Fire at the Bowl

The last concert at the Hollywood Bowl this season was also the best. Brent got us tickets to see this dynamic duo and they did not disappoint. They both delivered great live performances of new and old songs and the crowd was on their feet by the end. Frontman James Murphy of LCD threw in some remarks which I thought were great. In between songs, he said, "Wanna know something weird?...this is our job." I got a real kick out of that.

EVO update

EVO, the loft being built next to mine, is progressing at a rapid pace. They are currently setting up the framework to pour the 19th floor. People have started moving into LUMA, the other loft complex adjacent to ours. Pretty soon, there will be quite a few residents hanging around the block. I just hope the patch of grass where my dog Ernie does his thing doesn't have turds all over it...it's incredible how many dog owners DO NOT clean up after their pooch...I wish I had a secret camera so that I could post their picture on some website somewhere. Actually, that's a really good idea...people who don't clean up after their pet should be embarrassed and penalized by having their picture posted on a website....hmmmm...www.poohead.com. I hope that website isn't already taken.

Gettin' outta da heat in LA!

Went to Lake Tahoe for Labor Day weekend which ended up being the right move. A heat wave hit LA that brought near record temperatures and humidity. Lake Tahoe was a pleasant 85 degrees during the day and 40's at night. Even caught two Rainbow Trout.

Wine Tasting Experiment

Had a little wine tasting experiment in our loft after a small party. Gave everybody blind tastings of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Pinot Noir. We were drinking mid priced wines and trying to identify, describe, and nose the differences between these three. Being that we just got back from a trip to Napa, we thought we'd share a little knowledge. For you novice wine drinkers out there, you should be able to tell the difference between all three of these wines based on smell, taste, and mouth feel alone. Try it sometime!

LA Live Insider Peek

As a South Park resident, I was invited to a presentation by AEG on the ongoing LA Live project. I have a special interest in this area as my loft is only two blocks away. Anyways, it was very reassuring to learn what kinds of businesses will be my neighbors. Some of the most exciting facts include: a high end grocery store which will likely be a Whole Foods or Gelson's, a Lucky Strike bowling alley, Deluxe Regal Cinemas, and numerous high end and mid range restaurants and nightclubs. At first I was skeptical that this whole deal would end up looking something like CityWalk...which is an Uber cheesy faux town at Universal Studios. I am now feeling pretty good that LA Live will be a unique experience as it develops its own flavor and feel.

LA is the 3rd bloggiest city in the US...or so they say.

There is a fairly thorough listing of all the different blogs that downtown LA has at blogdowntown. In fact, this blog is mentioned on the August 14th post of blogdowntown. According to Celia, of the blog 5th and Spring, LA even has blogs that are sent from DOGS! What the hey? Celia also mentions that Downtown LA is the 3rd bloggiest city in the USA via this link.

DJ Braller

Went to Mr. Smith's Lounge in SF last night to check out DJ Brent Quon Hall's set. All I can say is that the set was tight, and the crowd was lovin' it. If anybody needs a DJ that can throw down an eclectic mix that your feet can't help groovin' to, DJ Brent is your man...if you can get him. Check out the setlist he played last night on his blog (Aug. 11 entry) or check it out just to find out more about the SF music/art/culture scene.

Brent Hall's Blog

Ms. Pac Man at the Elbo Room

Checked out a really tasty Peruvian restaurant in the Mission of SF called Limon. The ceviche was extraordinary. But what really stood out tonight was playing Ms. Pac Man and Centipede at these small arcade tables in the Elbo Room Bar. Brent broke the record and got to a level I never knew existed...the ghosts no longer turned blue after eating the power pellet - they continued to chase you! According to his score tonight, he would have beaten the 16th highest score ever recorded at an official Ms. Pac Man tournament (109,200 Jim Lennon, Staford, NJ, May 19, 1992). See link below for official Ms. Pac Man record scores.

Ms. Pac Man

Save the Sea Otters!

Went to the Monterey Bay Aquarium and saw the sea otters. Learned an interesting fact: Cat poop kills sea otters! If your cat feces enters the sewer system, there is a bacteria called Toxoplasmosis in the poop which then gets flushed out to sea and is absorbed by sea urchins, crabs, oysters, mussels, etc., which the sea otter then eats. This kills sea otters once they are infected. Humans can also get infected by shoveling the tasty slimy critters down your throat without cooking them first...but I'll risk it to eat these tasty invertebrates! BTW...that's why pregnant women can't eat raw seafood or sushi. "a Toxoplasma infection of an unborn child may cause birth defects, blindness and brain damage."

By the way, another interesting fact is that the entire coast of California used to run rampant with the cuddly creatures, but they were hunted by fur traders to near extinction in the earlier part of the 19th century. They are now an endangered species and number close to 3000! They are currently confined to the central California coast; whereas they used to live along the entire California and Baja California coastline. So where are all the sea otter coats now?

Find Out How to Save the California Sea Otter

Recent EVO pic.

Since we live in a condo near EVO, we can get some pretty cool pics of the rising behemoth.

EVO South

Rooftop Party at the Eastern

We somehow got invited to a rooftop party at the Eastern Columbia Lofts last night. It was sweet to see such a historic building restored to its former glory. The roof deck and pool provide amazing panoramas of downtown, and the sunset was awesome. Also, we got to tour three of the penthouses.

It has been confirmed that Johnny Depp has purchased a condo in this historic building. Our insider team has told us that Dave Navarro has also purchased a condo...unless our "spy" got confused with a different Dave Navarro.

J Lounge with Jimmy

My friend Jimmy is moving to Hong Kong to pursue his dream of becoming an international real estate mogul. Take a close look at that mug folks...that's the future.

Anyhoo, we celebrated with a private cabana and lots of alcohol at J Lounge. I hadn't been to J since its opening and it has changed alot. The outdoor patio is fully functional with nice cabanas, fire pit, full bar, and even a BBQ station serving up beef and chicken shishkabobs. The crowd was very mixed which was also cool...

J Lounge & Restaurant

Bobby's Pool Party

Our good friend Bobby had an off the hook pool party this weekend, and I kid you not, I have never had a chopped chinese almond salad like the one presented to me poolside. I will have to repay Bobby and all present with a party in the loft downtown...coming soon. BTW...there were girls at the party...honest.

The Sound of Music

I didn't even know what the Sound of Music(SOM) was before I got married. When my wife first found out I had never seen the movie I think she almost thought she married the wrong man. First of all, if the SOM was on TV on Sunday and there was a Raiders game at the same time, clearly the SOM was not watched. But, I have learned over the years that I really have no excuse. I am an uncultured and ignorant man.

I, however, have made up for it by going to the Hollywood Bowl Sound of Music Singalong! I never knew the SOM had such a following. Amazing. There were hundreds, perhaps thousands of people dressed up as characters and inanimate objects from the movie. People were even dressed as metaphors! The winning costume actually won a fully paid 5 day cruise to Mexico. And the winning costume was....drumroll please...an 8 year old boy who dressed up as "how do you hold a moonbeam in your hand" from the song "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria." Look at the pic. And, I know, my wife had to help me a lot with this blog entry.

By the way, I have learned how to play Edelweiss on the guitar just like the Captain.

DJ Shadow & Cut Chemist

Every year we like to go to the Hollywood Bowl at least 5 or 6 times. This summer, the kickoff to the bowl season started with the opening KCRW concert headlining DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist.

The most interesting part of the evening was taking the subway from Pasadena all the way to Hollywood. Being good citizens, we paid the fare both ways. I later learned that paying the fare was "optional." Actually, it's required, but there is no person or machine around to check if someone has actually purchased the ticket. Interesting. So, anyways, the subway is NICE! Reminds me of a mix between San Francisco and Hong Kong without the crowds. Try it sometime.

I've seen Cut Chemist perform live at a small venue in San Francisco, and he totally rocks the house. I've also listened to several of DJ Shadow's compilations and really liked the mixes he throws down. Their performance at the Hollywood Bowl, however, left something to be desired, as their intro melodies and vaguely familiar overtones set me up for a climax that I never received. I kept waiting and waiting to hear a driving bass line or drum loop that got me out of my seat...but it never came. I think the reason is that this show was meant to be more of an artistic duet of sorts, with the Shadow & Chemist showing off what is possible when all you have to play are found 45's, eight turntables, and an effects processor. Yes, it is amazing what small snippets of sound can be milked from a 45 of Etta James and mixed into a 45 sample of Bizarre Love Triangle, but when you take the parts of a song that are so obscure that they are almost unrecognizable, it doesn't make for very discernable listening. But I will say that the concert was much more interesting after a couple glasses of wine and a very strange and strong German Beer.

Roy & Holly Leave for NYC...Boohoo.

Our good friends Roy & Holly are leaving for NYC for at least two years. Take a good look at them, cause when they come back to LALA land, there may be a bun in the oven!

Lobster Night!

When my brother comes home from China, my mom gets real excited. The baby of the house is back, which gives her an excuse to, well, baby somebody. Besides the fact that it makes my mom revert decades back to her 30-40ish maternal self, it also brings on the traditional "Lobster Night," whereby my mother goes to the chinese market with the cheapest and largest Lobsters, and proceeds to buy more than any mortal family can eat. Yippee for Lobster salad for the next week! So here it is, Lobster Night.

George & Amy wed in the OC

Went to a wedding at the St. Regis in Laguna today, and it was nice. No expense was spared...beautiful wedding ceremony at a beautiful hotel at one of the nicest beaches in all of California. The only thing that got a childish giggle out of me were the floral decorations on pillars that lined the aisle...you see, they were tall cylindrical glass vases filled with water...and as you can see from the pictures, if you bumped the pillar...needless to say, I saw a poor woman take a "flower shower" just as Amy and George said "I do."

But, I have to compliment this young couple on a beautiful wedding otherwise. Here's to you! George & Amy!

By the way, beautiful photography at the wedding was done by: Jessica Claire Photography.

http://jessicaclaire.net/index.cfm?postID=137
http://jessicaclaire.net/index.cfm?postID=138