LA's Downtown Art Walk

On the second Thursday of every month, in other words TODAY, is the famed Downtown Art Walk. It starts at noon but I say go at night:

Over 40 galleries participate. Here are just a few that have caught my eye:

The Carol Cerillo Stanley Studio Gallery (#43 on the map)

Nearby is The Dac Gallery (#24 on the map)

The Machine Inspired Art Gallery (#32 on the map)

For photog fans check out Studio 4Q (on the alley between Hill and Broadway, off 6th)

And for doodle art fans swing by The Hive Gallery (#23 on the map)

Photo Courtesy of Qathryn Brehm

What map? Behold...  

THE ART WALK MAP & OTHER DEETS:

•On their site is a way to chart your own gallery map but I have to be honest, I've tried to do that and for some weird reason, it isn't working. I must clarify. It isn't working FOR ME because I'm no genius. So if you want to give it a go on their site, CLICK HERE. Maybe you'll tell me what I was doing wrong. If you run into the same problem I did, the good news is there's also an app for the map you can put on your phone. Just download: ART WALK MAP APP. And seriously, you also can just go and pick up a map there, right? Being prepared is so unartish. 

•It starts at noon but it goes til about 10pm and know that different galleries may have different hours. And not all on the map are going to be open.

•Though obviously there are many galleries to visit, and it is spread out, it seems much of of the center hovers around Spring & Main, between 7th & 3rd.

•It's easy enough to take the metro into downtown but if you are driving, there a number of parking lots the organizers recommend. Can't vouch for the price though. I hate parking downtown. Still it's good to know where to go. So just click here for more information: PARKING LOT SUGGESTIONS. Knowing where you're going to park is not unartish. 

•If you can take the Metro, it makes a lot of sense. The ease! Click here for Metro info. 

•Regarding food, there are so many restaurants and bars around,  it won't be hard for you to find something delicious to eat and drink. But one of my absolute favorites is Mo-chica on 7th. Unbelievably delicious and reasonably priced. I haven't been in awhile but there's no doubt it's just as Peruvianly tasty as it was the last time. In other words, people like it so prepare for a wait!

I love stuff like this. There is so much to do in this town. You just have to know what's going on, where, and how to get there. 

All to say ENJOY!

Graffiti in Los Angeles - Art is Where You Drive By It

Don't you find graffiti kind of defines a place? LA's graffiti floors me. When I went to see "Gatsby" and saw that billboard of the eyes of God (or Dr. T. J. Eckleburg) looking over everyone I wondered who or what was that for me? The answer is there are many euphemistic and literal eyes in Los Angeles and I drive or walk by them ALL THE TIME. 

The ones you encounter in the flesh, you can't always trust 'em. But you can always trust Trusto.

You do. You really look lovely. 

Obey the law but have some cajones! 

You never know. You might have a hit on your hands.

Would it kill you to read a book once in awhile?

Always be kind to others. 

Being grown up doesn't mean you have to be quiet, boring or pretty. But you gotta leave your house once in awhile.

Your hair is beautiful.

We're all just stars in your movie

Saying "I love you" is big enough. You don't have to buy presents.

Call your doctor.

Look around you. Look on the sidewalk, on the mailbox, on the wall, on the bridge. Lots of messages. But this one, I've dubbed her Ma Echo. You can find her on Sunset driving up the hill in Echo Park towards Downtown. She's the one who seems to really be saying all I need to know on a daily basis.

For Godssakes, zip up your pants.

ENJOY!

Sunshine for Your Car brought to you by World Party

Sometimes you just stumble upon the perfect late night music for your drive home. "Sunshine" was mine.

I heard it on the ride home this evening as I was looking out on York. All the people were walking around, eating late night food, hanging with their friends. This music just seemed to provide the perfect soundtrack for it all.

Enjoy and good night,

:)

I Found My Favorite Sandwich, Mid-Century Modern Furniture on York and DEVO!

UPDATE: The Natural History Museum is closed Saturday (today) during the day in preparation for the event tonight and the Grand Centennial Event happening tomorrow. Sunday's is a kid-friendly event and sounds like A LOT is going on (Garden Tours, kid-friendly activities, food trucks, etc.). There's a day portion and an evening portion. Click on the link below for more details and ticket information:

NHM CENTENNIAL INFO FOR JUNE 9 INFO 

Now back to our regular programming...

Oh my GOD I have to post about Devo. Listen, we're going to get to the best sandwich I've had in LA since moving here in a minute. But the initial purpose of this post was I had totally wanted to announce an important, potentially life-changing experience, happening at The Natural History Museum this Saturday night...

Look at them, all lined up there, ready to clean out your intergalactic apartment. Devo. The boys from Planet Thank You will be performing this Saturday night at The Natural History Museum.

Tickets for Devo (a 6pm show) are only $25 and will sell out. But give it a go and CLICK HERE.

It's all to celebrate NHM's 100 year anniversary and the opening of the new Otis Booth Pavillion. I haven't been there so I can't tell you much about the pavilion but the little I've learned it's on the north side, there's some cool-ass pedestrian bridge that I believe connects the whole deal to Exposition Boulevard and it's a 3 story glass building with a 63 foot, long fin whale poised as if it were taking a dive inside of it. I LOVE that!

There'll also be what they're calling The After Party. Sounds like quite an event with a sound and light show happening, cocktails and tasty sweets, and you'll be amongst the first to get a look at the new pavilion. Cocktail Attire Required. Sounds like glammed out fun.

Tickets are $125. Here's how you get those: THE AFTER PARTY TICKETS.

But this whole thing - this cultural suggestion - was really interrupted because right before I wrote this post I went out to get a sandwich at Whole Foods.

On my way I somehow took a wrong turn where I ended up at a mid-century modern store on York in Highland Park and then apparently at my new favorite sandwich place in Eagle Rock on Colorado Boulevard.

It's usually when you go the wrong way that you find the right things.

Here's the deal: I am shocked SHOCKED that I didn't know about this place before. I've lived in LA a long time and in this neighborhood for almost a year. How come I never saw it? Why God, why were my eyes closed?

Well, who cares since now I've found the promised land. Here's why the importance: I never find a sandwich that is a slamdunk, homerun, you-got-it-you-know-where-I'm-from-and-you-know-how-to make-me-happy out here on the west coast. Never. It's hard to top my sandwich of origin. When I was growing up we used to go to some deli in Dobbs Ferry, New York. I think this guy named Chrissy would make us this sandwiches. They were simple and perfect and I believe in touch with the Divine. My order was Turkey on a roll with oil, vinegar, mayo, lettuce, tomato, onion, cheddar cheese, salt and pepper. I don't think anything else. It was perfect - and Chrissy was a guy and he was REALLY cute so the whole experience was nothing short of fantastic. And a Coke. Had to have a coke. Maybe I got a large pickle, too. Why lie? I know I got the pickle.

So those are my buds. You know when you go into a restaurant and you ask the waiter what he likes? He might have really different tastebuds than you so I think I like to know what the waiter likes to eat before I trust his recommendation. These are my buds. These are my roots. This is the kind of sammy I like. So this might not be your cup of tea. If so, I'm shocked SHOCKED. But okay.

And just so I can get it out there before I laud my new find I must give a major nod to Bay Cities in Santa Monica as being a total true contender for the type of sandwich that makes me happy. It's great. And it's so much fun to go there. What a scene. That being said, I can't lie, Dave's sammy supercedes Bay Cities. It just does. And it's 10 minutes from my house so YAY!

So if you happen to be out in Eagle Rock anyway, may I recommend Dave's Chillin & Grillin on Colorado Boulevard.

Dave the owner is from Brockton, Massachusetts. You kind of know it the second he says anything.

Dave

A total character with a gap in between his teeth, he's got lots of stories. He dreamt of this sandwich place for a long, long time and worked his ass off to make it happen. And I admit it, something about talking to him, I sort of felt like if I was Mark Cuban I'd say Dave, I want to give you a million dollars. But instead I gave him 8 something for my sandwich. I just love how into it he is. It's not just the inspiring tale of writing the business plan in '94 and opening the business in 2005 - never giving up. I think it was his passion for healthy, fresh, simple ingredients. It all seemed the more prescient the moment I got home and bit into my sandwich:

Hello, Sammy

Deliciousness. It was called a Turkulese which is supposed to come with Feta but they were out so it came with Avocado. It was made up of turkey, tomato, lettuce, hummus (next time I'll skip that), oil, vinegar -- and no cheese because of the feta shortage. If there was anything else in there, I don't remember it. It was supposed to come with pepperocinis but I skipped it because I was scared of them. I think I made the right choice. In fact, I know I made the right choice. This baby was heaven.

Here's what he what he said about his food beforehand:

•Dave's is what he called 3rd Trimester Friendly. Is that something? I didn't know that was something. But then he explained this part of the equation...

•Their feta's made from sheepsmilk. And it also happens to be imported from Israel but I think the sheepsmilk makes it safe for expecting moms.

•They use no processed meats.

•That was real turkey on my sandwich.

•They use fresh baked bread. No bread is older than 14 hours.

•He even tries to get healthier salami. The salami has only 1 nitrate.

There was more! He told me more! I can't remember it all. This was all I was able to write down. Dave was going for a ride on his bike and I was starving. Time was of the essence.

This man, right here, right above this sentence, this is the man that conceived of and built my sandwich and was the one to sign off on my avocado. Let us all say Thanks.

Dave's Chillin & Grillin is at 2152 Colorado Boulevard. Nearest cross-street is Eagle Rock Blvd. Their website is currently under construction but I will post it when it's back up.

Lunch has meaning again!

That's why you shouldn't panic when you get lost or take a wrong turn. Something might just catch your eye and you'll find your new favorite sandwich or best friend or mid-century modern furniture store.

I truly want to do a bigger piece on Shopclass that's located right here in Highland Park on York and Avenue 52. So this mention of it, happening now, is just a little taste - a blog amuse-bouche, of what hopefully will be a bigger blog feast some day.

(is "feast" bouche in French? Somebody look that up)

Regardless, we're here right now and the most important thing for you to know is if you're in Highland Park, you should go to Shopclass! It's worth the visit! It's only been open since February but was already mentioned in Martha Stewart's Living (this month's) and it's no wonder. They have some really wonderful pieces in the store.

I just LOVED Lucy & Ethel up there. Truly I'm no mid-century furniture expert but maybe you are (Nancy, Brian, Mark & Adco) and I would not steer you wrong. I kinda think this spot is the real deal.

One of the owners, Ellen LeComte is founder of Amsterdam Modern and one of the visionaries behind Mohawk in Silverlake (I did a post on Mohawk here back in May). 

She's since left Mohawk and paired up with Sally Breer and Jeff Garbs.

Sally, from Paris, is an up and coming interior designer and Jeff, a recent transplant from Texas, is a furniture bloodhound - searching near and far for all the right pieces.

Get your tuchus over here! This place is chockfull of good stuff. And listen, sorry for the salty language and crass, non-artsy photo display. I might be in need of a nap (this was a lot of writing!) and when I was at Shopclass, I was very VERY hungry and couldn't dedicate the time to getting really the great photos this store cries out for!

And like I said I promise a bigger post in the future. In the meantime, if you want to see what these cats are doing Saturday night in Highland Park, they're participating in the NELA Art Walk that happens every 2nd Saturday, from 7-10 pm in the neighborhood. I know what you're thinking: an art walk, too?

THERE IS TOO MUCH GOING ON IN THIS WORLD!

Click HERE for more information about the HP Art Walk.

Man, I'm exhausted. This was way more than I ever intended. But the sandwich -- it just, it drove me. Anyway, have a great weekend and ENJOY!

Get Your Culture on This Thursday Night with Joanne Tatham

If you want a rather sophisticated and fun evening of high quality song, I definitely recommend seeing the beautiful and very talented jazz vocalist, Joanne Tatham tonight...

Joanne is a sassy, brassy singer who kind of makes you feel like Don Draper's in the audience as well, at the end of the bar, appreciating her sultry voice right alongside you. I've seen her before and it's a wonderful and special way to spend an evening.

From the website:

JOANNE TATHAM brings her jazz-infused vocal storytelling back to Catalina Jazz Club in "Soundtrack New York: Music from Movies Made in Manhattan." A carefully edited survey of songs from iconic movies filmed right on the city streets -- from "Breakfast at Tiffany's" to "Midnight Cowboy"l, from "West Side Story" to "Tootsie" -- this brand-new show includes the work of The Gershwins, Burt Bacharach, Kander and Ebb, Marilyn and Alan Bergman, Henry Mancini with Rod McKuen, and so many more. Arrangements are contributed by Tamir Hendelman (Barbra Streisand), Brad Ellis (Glee) and Eli Brueggemann (Saturday Night Live). 

The Washington Post says: "[an] exceptionally beautiful voice...reminiscent of the pop balladeers of the early '60's and '70's, but with a fine-drawn intensity and shimmering vibrato that are all her own.

From Penthouse: "If you get a chance to see Joanne Tatham perform live, get moving! She's something you don't want to miss."

Since it's first come first serve, I do suggest making reservations. I have a feeling this will sell out. The show starts at 8:30 but The Catalina Jazz Club begins dinner service at 7. There is either a 2 drink minimum (which does not have to be alcohol) or you can order some supper. 

Click HERE to buy tickets or for more info, call the club at 323.466.2210. And of course you can visit her web site at www.JoanneTatham.com. 

ENJOY!

Follow By Email

A little car porn for you

To FOLLOW the blog, just go to the right of the screen, and enter your email address. It's right under The Blog Archive Section. You can also click onto Join This Site but it's easier there if you have a Gmail Account.

Happy Tuesday and Enjoy!

Franklin Village, UCB and That Necklace

This past Saturday night I hung out in a little strip I rarely find myself in anymore but I'd kind of like that to change. Officially it's called Franklin Village but when I lived in Beachwood Canyon, I would just say, "I'm gonna hang out on Franklin." It's sort of an alcohol-infused block where back in the day (a day which lasted several years) I did a lot of damage. My favorite watering hole to do damage in was...

How many nights did I close it down? No one was counting. Thank God.

What I liked was there was this long-ass wooden bar, the bartenders were always friendly but too busy to be too friendly, sometimes a starlet would show up for a 1/2 hour and cause a stir and the food? Okay, I guess. I think I liked the French Onion Soup for real. But you really did just go there to drink and spill out onto the sidewalk, eventually. And the French people who ran the place always seemed a little short-tempered which made them entertaining to me. One of them would always snap at one of the other ones and if you were lucky, they'd snap at each other in French. And there was this guy there named Mr. Franklin and I didn't know he didn't work for the place. I thought they paid him to play the piano (and hear me sing). It turns out if any money was placed in his hands, it was probably to make him go away. I wish they had given me some. Though I'm not sure you could've stopped me if I already got to the place where I wanted to sing in public.

Dear Public, I'm so SO sorry.  Love, Cynthia

These people are far more civilized than I ever appeared when I made an appearance at La Poubelle

So it's a drink-y bar and frankly, a drink-y area. Therefore need I mention designated drivers? I think I do. If you're going to hang out in this stretch of land, and you are the sober driver, GOOD FOR YOU. Let me give you a little tip: do NOT park at Gelson's. There are signs EVERYWHERE about not parking at Gelson's and they will tow your car (it's happened to the best of us. Ahem). So here's the deal, you can find street parking if you're tenacious. If you're not, spend the 5 bucks or whatever it is to park with the nice men from Poubelle. It's worth it. And no matter what, DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE. In fact DON'T DRINK AND WALK.  Here is a list for LA taxis. Stick one of these numbers in your phone:

TAXI.  

Poubelle isn't the only bar on the strip. There's the famous Birds - a lot of locals have been going there for years. There's also the not-so-new-anymore-kid-on-the-block, Franklin & Company, where I found these celebratory young gentelemen..



I loved these guys. I was in line for an 8 o'clock show at UCB and these boys were already well on their way, God bless 'em. It's one of those pics you could see for a movie like "Diner" isn't it?

Dear Entourage, What have you done? Love, Cynthia

I haven't eaten at Franklin & Co. but am curious. It's a gastro pub with that sort of pub faire I wish I didn't like so much. You say duck-fat fries- I say, Yeah, okay. I'm not wearing a bikini this summer anyway. And I think blue cheese used in tator tots is an important choice. Truffle in anything is fine but in Mac & Cheese sounds thoughtful and loving. (I've not eaten that much today so this is particularly excruciating). If you like to drink - and I think it might be a requirement here - they have several drafts on tap and something that stood out: Thursday night is Bourbon & Burger Flight Night where you get 3 sliders to be paired with 3 bourbons. Rick Blaine would be proud.

I'm probably more though at the point where a used bookstore is what appeals to me. Therefore may I recommend Counterpoint Records & Books. They have a lot of really obscure stuff, records, bios about stars, pretty much all the classics and the books I sold them when I was moving. If you buy a cookbook about Southern cooking or any number of self-help books that focus on being the best you you can be so others will see it without you trying too hard, let's just say, You're welcome.

From Counterpoint Records & Books

Also if you can, pop into the gift & newspaper shop The Daily Planet. It's at the far end of this little strip, right on the corner of Tamarind. It always smells super nice and they have a ton of great little tchotchkes, books, magazines and papers for sale on the corner.

I feel like wrapping paper is in. But in all fairness, The Daily Planet always sold the good stuff.

Though on this particular night I wasn't there for food, drink or wrapping paper. I was there for comedy at The UCB (The Upright Citizens Brigade). Truth be told, I don't go to see that much comedy in Los Angeles these days but my friend Jessica is a huge fan. She and her husband, Joe, won't spend dough to hear live music or go to a fancy dinner but they will go to great lengths to laugh it up like they just don't care.





This is Jessica. I told her to make a super-serious face and in a snap, she looked as if she was gazing over a field of wheat. 

She also happens to be a jewelry designer which is NOT why I'm friends with her but I could understand someone making that choice. Because her jewelry is AWESOME!

Me glamming out with Jessica's necklace from Cast & Combed.

That's The Adder Necklace. I think it's stunning. I'm not friends with her because she has gorgeous necklaces. She also has gorgeous rings.

So Jessica and Joe, like I said, are all about the comedy. They go to Largo, they go see stand-up, and they go to UCB where they are particular fans of Asscat:

That's not a photo from the show. Actually I don't even know if it's cool for me to post that. Go to 99Covers.com so I feel better.  Thank you. Here's UCB's sign:

See why the 99Covers.com one was a little better?

Okay, so Asscat is an improv show. Let me tell you something, I'm all about going to see great stand-ups. The last time I saw a show was probably Eddie Pepitone. And if you're in town and he's in town, do yourself a favor and see him. BA-RILLIANT. But improv? Not really my bag. I'm so afraid of being uncomfortable and not in a good way. But Jessica told me it would be good. Therefore with a skeptical eye, my comedy snobbery at close hand and my admiration for her jewelry, I went for it it.

Dude, improv is so freakin hard! I don't know how these people pulled off the show they did. It was funny. GENUINELY FUNNY. And impressive. Genuine laughs not mercy laughs. Maybe my favorite piece in the show had to do with Lauren Lapkus being a really disgusting baby in the womb but I can't say what happened because it's not fair to her and it's really blue. Like Louis C.K. cringe-worthy-blue. Fantastic.

From what I understand, they always have very talented people. The night I was there, the group included the girl who grossed me out in a good way,  Lauren Lapkus - (Lauren, if you're reading this, I am now the biggest, most devoutest fan of yours but I will not stalk you) Jonah Ray (a sweet guy who has a fear of centipedes. He has many credits but you might recognize him from the Bing ads), and Zach Woods (The Office) who is so fast on his feet-- the guy's kind of amazing. It was fun to just laugh and hang out and seriously, it was all so CHEAP! I don't mean how I felt afterwards. I mean it was 10 bucks. Worth it.

Other people have been going forever and this is a popular show. So if you're gonna go assss, get tix ahead of time. For that information, CLICK HERE:

UCB TICKET INFORMATION

And if you get tix but want good seats, get there between 7 and 7:30. Line up with the rest of the peeps on sidewalk.

That's my friend Claire with the red hair. Hi Claire!

Doors open around 8 pm.

Man, the whole night just made me miss that neighborhood. And in the summertime, hanging out on Franklin, going to see comedy, eating a late dinner outside while looking across the street at The Church of Scientology's Celebrity Center wondering what Tom Cruise is thinking at this point in his career and private life, is really to me the quintessential way to spend a Saturday evening in Los Angeles.

Church of Scientology's Celebrity Center

Dear Tom, if you're lonely, sad and aren't sure what to do with yourself right now, buy me this necklace. Love, Cynthia

ENJOY!

The Adder Necklace, designed by Jessica for Cast & Combed, $209. Only available by pre-order.
Click Here for Infomation: CAST & COMBED