Thursday, April 30, 2009

Look at that Meat ! - Century City Farmers' Market

Look at that Meat ! - Century City Farmers' Market

Look at that meat! They should call themselves GRILLING HEAVEN. The line at this Century City Farmers' Market concession could rival the line at Space Mountain. Starving office workers were waiting up to 30 minutes to feed here. Not liking lines, I had a roasted eggplant sandwich from a different vendor. I like food, but I'm not crazy. I don't like lines. I don't like waiting in lines. I don't wait in lines. But the devil/god of "waiting in lines" has it out for me.

Look at that Produce ! - Century City Farmers' Market

The produce looks juicy. The fountain in the background was a good idea.

Friends and Flowers at the Century City Farmers' Market

Friends and Flowers at the Century City Farmers' MarketFriends and Flowers at the Century City Farmers' Market

"Join us each Thursday from 11:30 AM - 3 PM at Constellation Boulevard and Avenue of the Stars in Century City and find the freshest, locally grown produce in town."

You cannot beat the range of flowers I've seen at the weekly Century City Farmers' Market. My wife has been the joyful recipient of many an exotic bouquet. But wait till you see the food.

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

An Arbor Found in Marina Del Rey

An Arbor Found in Marina Del ReyAn Arbor Found in Marina Del ReyAn Arbor Found in Marina Del Rey

In the cool of a Marina Del Rey evening, this can be a fine window to look at while your wife is getting a decaf coffee drink next door.

Arbor Sports
102 Washington Blvd
Marina Del Rey, CA 90292
(310) 577-1131

ArborSports.com

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Brentwood Mental Health Administration

Brentwood Mental Health Administration

That's why this building was designed with these colors and materials, it looks stunning when the sun shines heavily upon it.

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Village Church - Brentwood Glen

Village Church - Brentwood GlenVillage Church - Brentwood Glen

Brentwood Glen is a small neighborhood hidden just west of the 405. Nice houses stand here, but the noise and filth of the freeway still leaks over the sides and into these buildings. Tall trees try to help fight back the smog and lead. When the hot L.A. sun shines down at high noon, the streets shimmer like the desert floor.

Friday, April 24, 2009

A Boy and His Birds - San Pedro

A Boy and His Birds - San PedroA Boy and His Birds - San Pedro

Last summer I was in San Pedro for the funeral at sea for my wife's best friend's mother. While we were all waiting for the boat to return from a previous service and pick us up, I saw this boy playing with these birds. I don't know if they were his, or if he was watching them for someone. But he appeared transfixed, hypnotized by observing these living creatures at close hand. Without trying to be poetic or corny, this episode added to the day.

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Froggy's Topanga Fish Market Restaurant

Froggy's Topanga Fish Market RestaurantFroggy's Topanga Fish Market RestaurantFroggy's Topanga Fish Market Restaurant

Froggy's Topanga Fish Market Restaurant

1105 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd.

Topanga, CA 90290

(310) 455-1728‎

I haven't been to Froggy's in a while, but I love driving through Topanga and particularly Old Topanga Road. The locals hang in Froggy's. It can be a beautiful, serene location. I remember the fish to be clean and fresh. But they didn't have table service the last time I was there, so for the prices, that turned me off. Maybe it's changed now. Still, it's a nice place to hang out, particularly if you're a local.

Saturday, April 18, 2009

No Parking - Marina del Rey

No Parking - Marina del ReyNo Parking - Marina del Rey

This is one of my favorite places on the westside. The Santa Monica pier is too crowded. The Washington pier has severe parking problems. By day this strip is populated with humans walking dogs and some fishermen. By night there are still humans walking dogs and I wouldn't be surprised if there was still a fisherman hanging around. Both day and night, you can watch and drool at the boats going in out of the channel. Sometimes I go to the very end of the jetty and sit on the rocks. It's quiet and meditative.

Friday, April 17, 2009

Fangoria's Weekend of Horrors Promo - 2009

Creation Entertainment presents

Fangoria's

Weekend of Horrors

LA Convention Center

April 17-19, 2009

"#1 Conventions for Fans of Dark Entertainment"

The festivities will include: Gruesome Guests, Vicious Vendors, Zombie Walk, Spooksmodel Contest, Photo Ops, Sinister Seminars, Celebrity Cocktail Party, Horrorcade, Creepy Costume Contest, Frightful Film Room, Autographs, and Art Ghoulery.

In attendance will be powerhouse horror auteurs Sam Raimi, Clive Barker, Tobe Hooper, Tom Savini, Fred Olen Ray, and the legendary Herschell Gordon Lewis.

Actors present will be Brad Dourif, Johnathon Schaech, Thomas Dekker, Bill Moseley, Bill Johnson, Thomas Jane, Doug Bradley, and Peter Stickles.

Scream Queens will include Tiffany Shepis, Jordan Ladd, Shannon Lark, Adrienne King, Jennifer Lynch, Malika Sherawat, Caroline Williams, Marilyn Burns, Laura Leigh, Bobbi Sue Luther, Marieh Delfino, Tracy Coogan, Alice Amter, Valorie Hubbard, Eve Mauro, Sita Young, Katherine Randolph, Monique Dupree, and one of my personal favorites, Ashley Laurence.

Fangoria's Weekend of Horrors - 2009

Poe Forward's Scream Queens


Santa Monica Bike Girl 5

Santa Monica Bike Girl 5

Monday, April 13, 2009

Santa Monica Bike Girl 1

Santa Monica Bike Girl 1

There's a whole lot of biking going on these days, even with the reduction in gas prices. Sometimes the photo pickings are terrific.

Friday, April 10, 2009

Angel's Gate Lighthouse - San Pedro

Angel's Gate Lighthouse - San Pedro

"This historic lighthouse has marked the entrance to the port since 1913. The breakwater is 9,250 feet long and contains nearly three million tons of rock, brought over from Santa Catalina Island. Designed differently than any other California lighthouse, Angel's Gate is situated on a forty-foot concrete square. Built to withstand rough seas, the framework is structural steel, with steel plates to the second floor. The lighthouse is so well-constructed that, after a five-day storm in 1939 sent violent seas smashing into the building, the 73-foot Romanesque tower leaned slightly toward shore, but still stood defiantly, as it does to this day. The lighthouse was automated in 1973, thus eliminating the need for keepers.

The two note blast of its foghorn every thirty seconds is a familiar sound to local residents. Mariners entering Angel's Gate are guided by the lighthouse's rotating green light. Whenever a deep sea vessel arrives on her maiden voyage in Los Angeles Harbor, the master is presented with a plaque etched with the likeness of the light, an official greeting from the City of Los Angeles, and the lighthouse that watches over the entrance to her harbor."

- SanPedro.com

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Zocalo at the Hammer: John Fante's 100th Birthday

Zocalo at the Hammer: John Fante's 100th Birthday

Zocalo at the Hammer:

John Fante's 100th Birthday

"John Fante is a quintessential Los Angeles writer who penned the beautifully desperate words in Ask the Dust: 'Los Angeles, give me some of you! ...Los Angeles come to me the way I came to you, my feet over your streets, you pretty town I loved you so much, you sad flower in the sand, you pretty town.' Los Angeles was his muse and inspired him to write some of the most influential prose about the American immigrant experience and the development of a young writer ever to reach print. A panel of Fante fans and scholars visit Zócalo to celebrate his work."

Hammer Museum

10899 Wilshire Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90024

Phone: 310.443.7000

Thursday, April 7, 2009 - 7 p.m.

John Fante - wiki

National Boulevard - Palms

National Boulevard - Palms