I won art. For a good cause. [Photo Gallery]

And when I say 'won,' I mean that I bought it of course. I simply bought it for a higher amount than someone else did. Which maybe I shouldn't have done. But it was for Stoked, the amazing non-profit which mentors kids through action sports. And they deserve my uninhibited, impulse buying. So this art's for you kids. Below, some pics from the Stoked private preview which happened last night to kick off today's Culver City ArtWalk. More pics from that awesomeness later...

Cool art by a cool artist...

Suitcase by Aaron Rose (director of Beautiful Losers)

These kids were big spenders. I'm pretty sure they bid on some big ticket items.

Gary Baseman and his pal. Gary, incidentally, is having a sick event during the LACMA Art Walk next Saturday. You should go. More on that later too...

I usually cry when I want to. Like when it's my party.

More cool art by another gent who'll be at LACMA next week.

This is me after bidding. I had this picture taken in case I didn't win. I won. You can visit this piece above my bed any time. That sounded suggestive. It wasn't meant to come out that way.

Gary bid on art too. Fingers crossed...

Didn't make it to the event but want to find out more about helping Stoked? Visit their site and donate your time or your money...or both!

Ice Cream + Art + Gadgets = Blood is the New Black's Summer Fling

What happens when two beautiful people get together and [fill in the blank] and then invite a 3rd amazing partner to [fill in the blank more]? A beautiful love child is conceived, that's what.

Am I being too metaphorically obtuse for you? Allow me to be explicit. Two of my favorite brands, revolutionary tee-shirt meets art collection, Blood is the New Black, and magically delicious ice cream sandwich purveyors, Coolhaus, have joined forces and brought in handy-dandy gadget protectors, Case-Mate, to bring Summer Fling, A Mobile Pop Up Shop and Ice Cream Truck to Los Angeles this summer.

You'll be able to customize your own phone cases with incredible art courtesy of BITNB's roster of sick artists. You'll be able to indulge in ice cream flavors like pistachio with black truffles. And you'll be able to hang out with me. Cause I'll be hanging around them all summer.

The launch party for LA's awesomest new mobile retailer is this Saturday. Find the details below and find me at the party!

Saturday, June 5th
8 PM - 12 AM

Nomad Gallery
1993 Blake Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90039

Live Performance by Dunes
DJ's Jacob Safari and Sara T
Live Screen-printing by Nomad Gallery
Open Bar available thanks to Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer

RSVP info@bloodisthenewblack.com requested but not required

Can't make it? Stay tuned to twitter.com/summerflingtruk and bloodisthenewblack.com/summerfling to find the truck near you this summer!

Fried Pastries & Liquor Day. Mmmmm.

Because Friday is National Doughnut Day [and because there's never a bad reason to drink], Grace Restaurant is offering bourbon and doughnut pairings.

I don't drink bourbon. Nor do I frequently indulge in doughnuts. But this concept sounds absolutely delightful all the same.

From the restaurant's website...

Friday June 4th is National Doughnut Day. In celebration Pastry Chef Mariah Swan and Wine Director Eduardo Porto Carreiro have created a flight of three doughnuts each paired with single barrel bourbons offered all week beginning - Tuesday June 1st through Sunday June 6th.

Salt and Pepper Caramel Glazed Doughnut
Blanton’s Single Barrel

Buttermilk Toasted Coconut Glazed Doughnut
Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel

Chocolate Hazelnut Glazed Doughnut
Woodford Reserve Single Barrel

doughnuts served with vanilla ice cream

$12 doughnuts only
$24 with bourbon pairings

Tuesday June 1, 2010 - Sunday June 6, 2010

Grace Restaurant
7360 Beverly Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA

Bon appetit and remember, kids, don't eat donuts and drive.

[via Daily Candy]

Tobias Wong. His awesome killer ring. & his passing.

In a year of seemingly endless celebrity deaths, it is always hardest to embrace those of great talents who pass too, too young. Tobias Wong, the Canadian-born, New York-based artist and designer, passed away on Sunday morning. Wong’s brief body of work was overwhelmed by creativity, innovative design, and twists on tradition.

Wong’s ‘Killer Diamond Engagement Ring’ (pictured left) is my favorite example of Wong’s subversive style. To take a romantic icon and turn it on its head–literally–to create a piece so much more interesting and inspiring than the original–genius.

I used to think this was the ring I'd want should some poor guy ever propose to me. He'd be poorer for having me cut him in his sleep though.

[This post originally appeared on Curated.]

Music for your Tuesday afternoon - Isaac Brock.

A little belated, but above is a snapshot of Isaac Brock (right) of Modest Mouse on stage at the secret private performance which followed the LA Premiere of '180 South' last week.

Below, the link to the MP3 of Brock's 'Wave Goodbye.' In case you didn't make the screening. Which you really, really should have.

Listen to 'Wave Goodbye.'

It's Memorial Day.

[Image Credit: Alfred Eisenstaedt. 1945.]

It's a group thing at the Carmichael Gallery.

As if next Saturday's Culver City ArtWalk weren't incredible enough, I just received notice of my buddies, The Carmichaels', incredible group show opening the same day. And when I say incredible, I mean far better than your kindergartener's last ceramic exhibition. Yeah, believe it. I'm talking about Cyclops, Blek le Rat, Banksy, Mark Jenkins, Know Hope, WK Interact, Nick Walker and other blow-your-mind talents at one singular Culver City address. Well, perhaps not the talents themselves. But the fruits of their labors.

I own one Know Hope piece. I've got a Nick Walker poster on the wall from his last show with Carmichael. And I want more, dammit. So, clearly, these are happy days for me. See you next Saturday.

Opening Reception
Saturday, June 5th
6 - 8 p

Show Runs From:
June 5 – July 3, 2010

Carmichael Gallery
5795 Washington Blvd
Culver City, CA 90232

We are killing each other. Part One.

At the beginning of last year's Inglourious Basterds, a Nazi leader enters a home. He casually makes small talk for a good 10 minutes or so. And then he proceeds to blow holes through the floor and kill a family of Jews beneath the floorboards. Quentin Tarantino can parody such a tragedy because it's so far in our history's past. How archaic. How 1930s. How ignorant the world was then during the follies of the Nazi regime.

Cut to 2010. An excerpt from today's New York Times. An article titled 'Attackers Hit Mosques of Islamic Sect in Pakistan.'

Gunmen and suicide bombers stormed two mosques belonging to a minority sect during Friday Prayer in Lahore, seizing hostages and killing at least 70 worshipers and wounding 78, the city coordinating officer said.

More than three hours after the attacks began, the police took control of the mosques, where they found bodies strewn across the main floors and verandas, the coordinating officer, Sajjad Dhutta, said.

At one of the mosques dozens of men survived by scurrying down a narrow passage and then hiding in the basement as the ordeal unfolded, said Abdul Salam Arshad, 56, a retired civil servant who was in the mosque and emerged unscathed.

We are still so ignorant. We are still killing each other.

One weekend in Hollywood (in pictures).

I generally try to stay away from Hollywood. Day. Night. No matter. My interest in the area is about as strong as my interest in eating fire. But this weekend, I managed to spend the better part of my days in the neighborhood known for its cheesy nightclubs and poorly decorated hookers.

I made a pit stop at the closing day of Poketo's Los Angeles, I'm Yours exhibit at Space 15 Twenty. The ping-pong tournament outside seemed to be in only partial swing, but the exhibit of found objects made pretty by some of LA's most awesome artists was impressive.

Perhaps stopping into Refinery 29's East West Tag Sale at the same venue was a mistake. And by mistake, I mean huge detriment to my wallet.

My pal needed to find wigs for an event so we made our way to the Boulevard. Spotted amongst the awful wigs and trashy lingerie: one Asian hooker being fitted for a wig by her middle-aged white customer. Also spotted, her bare crotch as her slinky pink dress slid up. Lastly spotted, me running nauseous out of the store.

Finally tried out George Abou-Daoud's Mercantile. It's market meets cafe on Sunset Blvd. And though the daytime menu is meager, we were able to indulge in an amazing cheese plate and wine.

Killing time during a car wash off Vine.

I've discovered the bottomless breakfast cocktails at Ivan Kane's Cafe Was. And, oh boy. I may never drink a Sunday morning away anywhere else again.

I have the feeling that Amoeba's windows haven't been restyled since the 90s. The early, early 90s.

And that's all one girl can take in Hollywood, folks.

Support at-risk teens & the better coordinated at Stoked Sessions.

On Saturday, June 5th, during Culver City ArtWalk (which you should be at anyway if you've got any taste for culture and/or awesome neighborhoods)--Stoked, a non-profit dedicated to helping at-risk teens through action sports and mentoring (at least these teens are one up on me in the coordination category), presents Stoked Sessions 2010. Stop by to find out more about the organization and to view (and yes, purchase) work of some incredible participating artists. I hope to see many of you there!

This is an illustration. I will give it no other disclaimer.

In searching for illustrators for a project today I came across this interesting designer with an, um, interesting perspective.

Thought it was worth sharing.

Invitation: LA Premiere of 180 South

A couple of months ago I had the unreal pleasure of seeing 180 South at its premiere at the Santa Barbara Film Festival. Now, Angelenos, y'all can see this amazing film too. It's premiering in LA next Tuesday and you're officially invited. Well, this blog post is just about as official as it's gonna get.

$15 will get you into the screening, the Q&A with the illustrious filmmaking and jetsetting Malloys and adventurer and star of the doc, Jeff Johnson, and a musical performance by an artist from the film's rad soundtrack (which includes the likes of The Shins, Modest Mouse and Jack Johnson).

See you next Tuesday friends.

One Year of Moods of Norway in LA [Photo Gallery]

In college, most of my friends went abroad to Spain or Italy or took more noble ventures to the likes of Burma and Tibet. Well, I had fantasies of the amazing health care system and fancy accents of Norway. This pipe dream lasted until I found out that the country was dark for half the year and had an alarming rate of weather-related suicides. Oh, and until I picked up the Norwegian 101 textbook from the library. That language is not something one can just 'pick up' as it turns out.

Lucky for me, and all of us really, three young designers from the little town of Stryn, Norway started Moods of Norway and brought it to Robertson Blvd. last year. And for a country that's so dark, these guys and their collection of women's and menswear are surprisingly colorful.

Pictures from the brand's one year anniversary party (and yes, that's a golden tractor)...

Go get your free ice cream, Los Angeles.

In 1961, Reuben and Rose Mattus, a couple of Polish immigrants, opened Häagen-Dazs in the Bronx with just three flavors--vanilla, chocolate and coffee (where was strawberry? we know!). Fifty years later, the brand has grown to huge, icy proportions with franchises throughout the world and pints of ice cream in every freezer case of every supermarket in the nation.

Some little known facts about the decadent ice cream brand America loves...

• Reuben actually started the frozen treat business from a horse drawn wagon. How rustic!
• The name, Häagen-Dazs, doesn't actually mean anything! It's made to look Scandinavian to us Americans, but the words are made up. Marketing at it's finest.
• Häagen-Dazs is making efforts to help the honey bees, which are (we hope you know) disappearing at a frightening rate.
• In honor of its 50th birthday, Häagen-Dazs is celebrating tomorrow, May 18th, from 4 - 8 pm with free scoops of the original 3 flavors at many of its locations. So don't be shy. Go help them celebrate with a complimentary scoop...on them. (The Häagen-Dazs at the Beverly Center is just one of many participating locations.)

Lessons from a poptastic red carpet.

Last night I worked the red carpet of a large pop music festival in Los Angeles. Beside befriending a few friendly cameramen and noshing on pretzels from backstage all evening, I realized the following...

* Reality 'stars' have officially outnumbered real ones.

* You don't need talent to get on stage in front of thousands anymore. You just need an attitude. And maybe a weird mannequin head that makes the press talk.

* A stadium full of teenagers screaming for Justin Bieber is just as loud as you might suspect.

* Baywatch started airing 2 decades ago. It's stars should probably retire from red carpets now if they haven't landed a role since.

* I am okay with being 'old' if today's reality TV stars are really who the 'young' folks have to look up to.

* America needs help.

13 year old boy does Lady Gaga. Maybe better than she does.

If I ever have a child, I hope that somehow genetics, training, and lots of summers at theatre camp will make him or her half as rad as this 13 year old kid...

(Though I'm not certain the 13 year old girls in the audience were quite as appreciative of the kid's talent as I was--watch for their unsure, concerned looks in the background. Precious.)

Hollywood's newest watering hole: MyStudio. [Life in clubLAnd]

From the folks (and when I say folks, I mean David Judaken) who brought you MyHouse and East and [long, long ago in the time when club-going dinosaurs ruled Hollywood] Garden of Eden, there is now MyStudio in the space that once housed Mood. Like MyHouse, MyStudio will confuse your friends. 'Where are you going,' they'll ask. 'To MyStudio,' you'll answer. 'But we surely can't all fit inside your studio,' they'll quip. And the Abbott & Costello routine will go on for another moment before you all realize you're talking about the chic new lounge on Hollywood Boulevard with the amazing library in front and sexy VIP booths along every wall, not to mention an incredible bubble chandelier that hangs above the main bar. It would better be illustrated with a picture, but photography was off limits last night at the industry opening event, and so a few choice words: bubbles/light source/outstanding is all I can offer to portray its awesomeness.

Though there's little photographic evidence of my adventure, there will always be the memories of the mashed potato bar. Oh. My. Good. Lord. It was good.

I was allowed this picture of the new venue's executive staff, however. And what a good looking bunch they are...

Partner & Director of VIP/Promotions, Tony Daly, Events Director, April Luca, and Handsomest Man on Hollywood Boulevard, Bernardo.

If you can't learn, at least you can laugh. The small good that came from last night's 826LA panel.

Last night I attended 826LA's Adult Writing Seminar on Comedy Writing. Did I get a whole lot out of the panel? Possibly not. You get that many egos in a room together who presume that they're just hilaaaarious, it's bound to turn into a panel about who likes the sound of their own voice best. But between wisecracking and a very few sound-bytes of actual advice (including treating ones parents like they're dead and writing below your intelligence level), I did have an opportunity to appreciate panelist Bob Odenkirk's dry wit. He was, undoubtedly, the most amusing on the panel and one couldn't help but to feel slightly inspired by him even if he didn't actually say anything inspiring...per say.

Here, Odenkirk's webisode which was screened at the panel. Enjoy.

Cheap eats, great views, & spicy guacamole at the Yamashiro Garden Market.

Hidden right above the tourist-riddled streets of Hollywood is the Magic Castle. And hidden right behind that is Yamashiro Restaurant. (You should note that hidden just a bit further up the hill is free street parking.) And on Thursday evenings (at least for the summer), the sprawling Japanese Restaurant and gardens are home to an outdoor farmer's market which is spectacular--not for its produce offerings--it hosts less than some of its counterparts--but for its atmosphere and the sweeping views of the city. Not many other of LA's farmers markets can boast a hilltop perspective of miles and miles and miles of cityscape. Nor, lovely Japanese exteriors. Nor a wine bar (nice!). Nor a Japanese style taco booth, courtesy of a Yamashiro's chef where guests can enjoy $6 tacos (he hooked me up with a pretty nice vegetarian alternative) and wasabi-laced gaucamole.

Enjoy one night this summer. I highly recommend the experience. If I were the type that gave experiences stars, I'd give this one 3.7 gold ones (4 if I'd had a blanket to shield me from the wind up there).

See you at the Yamashiro Garden Market on a Thursday soon, I hope...

This summer. Food, film and the great outdoors.

In case the Hollywood Forever cemetary screenings have gotten too crowded for you, you're tired of chasing down food trucks on the street, and/or you just need an excuse to gorge yourself on popcorn, there is a new outdoor screening/eating/lounging around fest in town.

The Outdoor Cinema Food Fest will launch this summer, with free weekly screenings at Exposition Park. That's that park near USC that you may have passed on your way to a nearby rave or the butterflies at the Natural History Museum at some point. But anyway, it's big, it's grassy, and it's about to be home to what the Fest's website is currently calling 'LA's Top Food Trucks.' Hmm.

Despite the shroud of vagueness concerning the food, the schedule of films is listed and it's a doozy. The fest opens with Avatar, includes other recent hits like The Hangover and Twilight and gets a little old school on us with classics like The Breakfast Club and Fight Club.

Sold. I will pack my extra salt for the popcorn now.

Drama, tans and guidettes on Little Jersey Shore.

They may be just 4 years old, but the drama, broken hearts and fake tans are no less real on Little Jersey Shore than on MTV's grown up version. Um, okay--the fake tans are a little less real on the Lil version.

Currently Listening To: Fitz & The Tantrums [Sounds]

Save the lead singer's very questionable blond streak, I'm loving Fitz & The Tantrums. Soulful and sexy--I've got this song on repeat.


Fitz & The Tantrums Performing LIVE! that's right LIVE!!! "Breakin' the Chains of Love" from Fitz&theTantrums on Vimeo.

And watch out for the LA-based six-piece on tour with Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings this Spring. No dates with Sharon in LA as of yet. But, ya know, us Angelenos can still support. Especially cause they'll be in residence at Spaceland every Thursday for a month, beginning June 10th. Um, yay.

"Los Angeles, I'm Yours." Cause one man's trash equals our good fortune. [art in LA]

One man's trash is another man's treasure as the saying goes. For instance, I will gladly eat your leftover food (just a note for the future). And, in a less practical and more creative interpretation of the adage, Poketo and Kistune Noir have teamed up, recruiting their artist pals to recreate found items into fabulous pieces of new art. Amongst those participating in the project are an eclectic mix of visual and varied artists including Gary Baseman, Jason Schwartzman, Neil LaBute and over 30 other LA artists.

The show opens at Space 15Twenty this weekend and you won't want to miss the 1st night of the art market with sounds by Aquarium Drunkard and ice cream by Scoops.

Please also remember when you're there--I WILL eat your leftovers, so just drop your melting Scoops off at my place, mkay?

Poketo x Kitsune Noir presents “Los Angeles, I’m Yours”

Space 15Twenty Gallery
1520 N. Cahuenga Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90028


Opening Reception
Saturday April 24th
7-10pm

Show runs until May 15th

Participating artists include:

Alex Krastev \ ASHKAHN \ Bijan Berahimi \ Brian Wade Scott \ Chris Bettig \ Cole Gerst \ David Browne \ Eamon Ore-Giron \ Eric Trine \ Erin Burrell \ Florencio Zavala \ Gary Baseman \ Geoff McFetridge \ Gina Osterloh \ Hannah K. Lee \ Ian O’Phelan \ Jared Andrew Schorr \ Jason Schwartzman \ John Pham \ Jordan Crane \ Leah Chun \ Marco Zamora \ Mark Todd \ Neil Doshi \ Neil LaBute for Significant Objects \ Portugal. The Man \ Saelee Oh \ Sarajo Frieden & Marci Boudreau \ Scott Barry \ Steven Harrington \ Tim Biskup \ Tom Vadakan \ Ye Rin Mok