kuaptic.: November 2005

Stealing Hollywood

Blogging.la reports that Gregory Peck's star on the Walk of Fame (located near Hollywood and Gower) has been stolen. It had been there for forty-three years. What are they going to do with that anyway? It's a bit more difficult to hang on your wall than a stolen road sign (though decidedly less dangerous.) Blogging.la also points out that Hollywood's Honorary Mayor used this opportunity to assert that this happened because they haven't put security cameras up on that corner yet. A day late and a dollar short, if you ask us. You can be sure no one would steal Rodney Bingenheimer's star!

Ed, We Hardly New Ye

Ed, after six weeks, has departed our fair street. It's good. He was treated poorly -- people left sodas and bags of dog-doo, newspapers and garbage. He was rained on, the fabric was starting to fall off one arm. It was a blessing, really. He's in a better place now. C'mon...no crying. It really is better.

In the meantime, we have the ugly couch. Facing outward, this guy is ready to go, and wouldn't you be if you were covered in such ugly fabric? We'd be chucking ourselves in front of buses, just to end the pain.

Last Chance

If you haven't been to Not a Cornfield (in fact a cornfield within view of downtown), with it's great rustling, dry plants, the jewel-like kernals of the ears of Indian Corn, here and there sprouting free of its husks. It's definitely worth the trip.

Magnolia

We've been in a Hollywood kinda mood lately. New Hollywood, we suppose, all Star Shoes, Amoeba, Arclight and Hungry Cat. But we're always in an old Hollywood kind of mood. And Magnolia fills both bills quite well.

It's got that new minimalist thing going on, but with old school flare -- moldings, grey, cream and sepia, with sparkling crystal fixtures and fisheye mirrors (if in fact, such a thing exists.) All candle-lit.

The food is sound. We started out with tender calamari, not the rote, rubbery dish many places offer, but one carefully spiced and delicious. Afterward, there was a generally sampling of main courses, including a savoury pasta dish, steak sandwich with fries, crispy chicken and mashed potatoes and seared ahi tuna with wasabi mashed potatoes. All were delightful, taking little for granted in terms of flavor. Dessert was slightly less so, especially the chocolate mousse which was a bit bland.

All in all, however, sitting in the large booths spangled with candlelight shining through wine glasses, it was easy to see how you'd want to come back.

Magnolia 6266 1/2 Sunset Boulevard at Argyle, Los Angeles, CA

In the Beginning

Do you ever wonder how Los Angeles became the movie capital of the world? kuaptic has the answer for you. When the industry was just starting out, they only had cameras and film. They had no lights. They needed someplace with consistent weather, and bright, blasting light. It was the light that made them choose Los Angeles. And all those sunny days, so good for keeping the productions on schedule.

Thanksgiving Day Suggestion

It's been a bit of a long week here at kuaptic central. Which is bad, because it, like, you know, just began. Also, it's only trhee days long! And boy, it can't end fast enough!

So here's our big t-day suggestion!

Instead of stuffing your face, hit the road jack -- take a hike, mike. A real hike, get out, stretch your legs, take in some fantastic views before hitting the table.

It makes everything taste better.

Hungry Cat

Apparently, cats get hungry. But the Hungry Cat isn't for cats, silly! It's for people. The small space, tucked into a corner of the Hollywood and Vine (That's Vine, not Highland -- with the Borders and the Schwab's) Complex, is spare and modern, and almost feels propped up -- just a corner of the building marked off with some sheetrock and a curtain. But it has a patio, and all the tables are candle-lit, frequented by hipsters, young and old. The menu is fairly limited, but each dish packs a punch. Our spy found the hamburger a little too "hamburger-y" but it's known to be one of the best in the city. They offer an extensive raw bar, the somewhat infamous $22 lobster roll. We understand it's huge and delectable. The same goes for the crabcake. The oyster chowder was good -- with rosemary, finely chopped veggies, big, tender oysters and a hint of smoke, it was however, a bit spicier than was necessary.

They have a menu of special drinks, which reads Thirsty Cat. They mostly involve fresh fruit crushed into pulpy juice. Luke's Lemonade was excellent, with mint. The Pink Kitty was more subtle, made with pomegranite, lime and orange juice. There was even a Tangerine Margarita. The service was spotty, but affable. On the whole, it felt like a wonderful adventure.

Hungry Cat 1555 Vine Street, Los Angeles, CA

I See Hawks in LA

(Also the name of a band, by the way.)

In keeping with our freeway theme (this will be the last one for awhile, we promise), we've seen a number of low-flying hawks -- not in the canyons or the hills but over the 10 Freeway on the westside. We'd like to ask -- what's up with this? We hope it doesn't mean they're being driven out of their habitats or something.

Why you Shouldn't Tailgate

In doing our "in-depth" research on freeway chickens, we discovered (via Snopes, which if you don't already know about it, you should check it out!) a great list of weird stuff they've found on Freeways that we thought we would share with you.

Just about everything has fallen on L.A. roadways over the years. Some unusual, unscheduled deposits:

About $7,000 worth of quarters on Hollywood Freeway; motorists jumping from cars reportedly get away with about 10% of the loot. (Sept. 13, 1982)

Thousands of pounds of M&M candies on Orange Freeway in Fullerton; surprisingly, no motorists attempt to scoop up any. (March 26, 1986)

One body on Hollywood Freeway from back of coroner's van. (Nov. 28, 1989)

Hundreds of gallons of laughing gas on Foothill Freeway; happiest rush hour ever. (July 17, 1991)

One 26-ton boat on Culver Boulevard; city crews move into action and remove it -- 36 hours later. (Nov. 6, 1989)

Some 14,000 pounds of salsa on Interstate 5 in San Clemente; only chips in vicinity are CHP officers. (June 16, 1987)

Forty-thousand bees on Foothill Freeway; it's so chilly they don't attack anyone. (March 14, 1985)

More than 1,000 jugs of wine on Golden State Freeway; crews keep motorists away. (Oct. 9, 1974)

One actress' resume ("Hair: honey blond; Eyes: hazel blue") on Foothill Freeway. (July 19, 1990)

Another article contains an equally impressive recitation of Los Angeles freeway finds: peevish bees, stampeding cattle, boats, pianos, mayonnaise, fish, broken watermelons, bananas, hot asphalt, soft drinks, margarita mix, tomatoes, beer, 150 tons of honey, a wild boar's head, a 5-foot-tall papier-mache rhinoceros, a U.S. Navy depth charge, sides of beef, mannequins, and a dead 15-foot 2,000-pound great white shark.

Snopes. Rules.

Get on Your Pajamas, It's time for a party!

Teenacide Records is a teeny, tiny LA record label. We're not sure how actually hip they are, but if they aren't, they should be. They put out Hey! It's a Teenacide Pajama Party! An excellent compilation of girly band goodness (straight up rock and roll, none of this chanteuse nonsense.) And now, they've been working on putting out disks of bands on that compilation. So indulge in girl rock. It's been too long!

What's that in the Road?

We might as well just come right out and say it. There are chickens living by the side of the Hollywood Freeway. It seems there are a number of different stories about how they got there, from poultry trucks overturning to kids saving chickens and depositing them there. Animal Control has tried to round them up, but they persist. So keep one eye out -- and your other eye on the road!
(Mural by D.S. Gordon.)

Brenda You

We have to be honest. We had no idea who Brenda You was until we heard of her death. We had heard the story of her daughter, Veronica You (she's nine), interviewing Britney Spears last spring. We understand, however, that though Brenda You was quite the firecracker -- she posed for playboy, was the West Coast Bureau editor for Star Magazine, a producer on Jerry Springer and not at all ashamed of her tattoos. She had also written a book, called Blood Red Carpet. She had a huge number of projects she was into, and of course her daughter. She was found Sunday night, seemingly overdosed on sleeping pills, though the possibility of foul play has not been ruled out at this time. It's a tragedy, how some one with so much going on could feel so hopeless as to end it, especially with a daughter to consider.

Fire Scorches Venice

Just the way we have the Santa Monica Pier today, around the turn of the century the coastline used to be lined with piers . People packed the beaches, and when the lights went down, people stayed to play at the piers. There was dancing, live music, amusement park rides and restaurants, much like today, but on a grander scale. In the thirties and forties, many of these piers fell into disrepair. Some were dismantled, others were just left to fall apart. This is the story of one that burned.

This is a quote pulled from a UCLA site about a pier in Venice called "Lick's Pier."

"Pacific Ocean Park went bankrupt in 1967. The rides and attractions were auctioned off in 1968. Except for a few restaurants along Ocean Front Walk, and the old Aragon Ballroom which was converted in 1967 into the Cheetah Club, the park was shuttered and its empty buildings were off limits.

The first of many arson fires was on December 29, 1969. The seaward end of the pier burned while two dozen firemen fought the blaze. Then six months later on May 27, 1970 a midnight fire destroyed the Aragon Ballroom and the Lick Pier while thousands watched. At one point on-shore winds bore leaping embers 1000 feet on nearby Venice buildings. Young transients, as many as 12-20 who were living in several of the pier's structures and under the pier were suspected of arson. Some were missing and police thought that several bodies were in the ruins. But because the fire burned so hot, traces of their bodies were never found."

Ed

You may remember Ed. We've had him on here before. Twice. Yet he persists, clinging proudly to his bit of pavement, somehow eluding the cagey garbage trucks. After so many weeks and so much punishment, we thought he deserved a name.

Tail O'the Pupdate

Update: 11.14.05
Finally, an opportunity to use our "bad pun generator," otherwise known as "Ted."

It turns out that the Pup may not be going out of business, but rather moving to Westwood, if "no one rocks the boat." (That means you, netizens!) Thanks to Franklin Avenue, for the source material. (But that pun is ALL ours!)

If you're reading this, it's more than likely that you live in Los Angeles. So you probably know how much we in Los Angeles like our big food. Big, architectural, junk food that is. Perhaps the king of big food is the Tail 'o the Pup, a hot dog stand designed in the shape of a hot dog in a bun. Already moved once from its original location where the Beverly Center now stands, the Tail O'the Pup was declared by the City of Los Angeles to be a cultural landmark. This, however, may not save it. Apparently, Cedar Sinai has sold the corner to a developer and Tail o'the Pup has till the end of the month before they get the boot. In this heartless city, fifty-five years slinging dogs isn't enough to give any kind of security. Get over there and check it out before it's gone.
329 San Vicente Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA

"That's One Way of Doing it."

A couple of arty happenings this weekend...

Sunday night there's the Silver Lake Film Festival, celebrating Raymond Chandler in films and readings of his writing, in Barnsedale Park (replete with tours of Hollyhock House). The cocktail party requires a fifty dollar donation (with appetizers by Patina and open bar) and a forties dress code is enforced.
Barnesdall Art Park 4800 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA

Also all weekend is the Angels Brewery Art Walk. The Brewery is one of the largest artists working/living spaces on the west coast and it'll be free, Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm.
620 Moulton Avenue, Los Angeles, CA

The IRS Gets Up in God's Grill

All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena, CA has one of the largest congregations on the west coast. On Monday, it came out that the IRS has threatened to revoke its tax exempt status because of a sermon given on October 31, 2004 where the rector made antiwar statements (namely that Jesus would not condone the war) but did not endorse either political candidate. (The presidential election was the following week.) The IRS isn't taking on the religious right or Catholics, whose churches advocate an anti-choice agenda, but it's open season on a left wing church preaching peace.

Casa Bianca Pizza Pie

In Eagle Rock, there is a line. People sitting in plastic chairs, gathered in groups on street corners, talking, laughing. Waiting. Mostly waiting. At 5:30 pm on a Saturday, the wait is an hour plus. The mood is jovial. This is a return crowd. They know what to expect. People cheer when their party gets called. When you walk down that sidewalk, people watch you like you're walking the red carpet. And indeed you are. The red carpet of pizza.

The decor is probably twenty years old; pictures of Italy, linoleum floors, lots of vinyl. There's no millenium hip minimalism to be found here. People don't come for the ambience. Cheap liters of red wine, coupled with decent appetizers, the least of which is the garlic bread -- passable, but uninspired. There are also fried mushrooms with ranch and marinara sauces, like melted cream of mushroom, crunchy and salty. The salads are peppy ice burg, rich with spices and vinagrette, lots of vegetables, black olives and pepperocini. It's all reasonably good, but none of it can hold a candle to pizza.

The star of the show arrives after a substantial wait (though not as substantial as the wait to be seated). It's thin crust, soupy with wonderful marinara, cheese, savory sausage, fresh tomatoes. The only disappointment is the mushrooms, which are canned instead of fresh, but it doesn't mitigate the wonder of the pizza much.

Often it's tough to resign oneself to a two hour eating experience -- especially with the majority of that being waiting. Sometimes though, the wait is part of what makes the experience definitive. It flavors the food, the conversation, the experience. Or Casa Bianca does do take out. Either way, to paraphrase the restaurant's t-shirts -- this town is going to pizzas!

Casa Bianca Pizza Pie 1650 Colorado Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA

Succulents

We live in a dry country. It may be hard to see, given the wide green lawns and tall trees grown on stolen water. People less concerned with watering plants (whether because they are more interested in saving water or less interested in dealing with them) like succulents, plants which, with their thick stems and leaves store more water than normal plants. They have a waxy substance that prevents them from losing moisture.

Curiously, succulence is not an indicator of close genetics but of convergent evolution (where two or more species develop similar characteristics based on environmental factors.) Because they are members of different families, they can have a vast number of features, from needles and hair to leaves and flowers. Some are regular and look almost like roses, others have leaves and flowers. Succulents in and around LA include ice plants, money trees and aloe vera plants. Some cacti and orchids are also succulents. None grow here naturally.

Old School Couch

These young couches today. They have no idea what the older ones went through. The dust, the darkness, the horrendous patterns they were created in... And what do they get for it all, but chucked into the street cushionless (what do people do with those cushions anyway?), flat on their backs. It's a hopeless life.

Big Art

Do you ever get sad that there isn't enough huge art around? Sure, you can visit a museum or a gallery and see some tiny daub, or even a larger painting, somethiong that can suck you into it. But there's somethign about the scale of huge art, so big it can't just suck you in, it surrounds you. kuaptic is fortunate enough to know about some cool things for you. Cause cool stuff is so important.

Maxmillian's Schell -- Materials and Applications, a little place in Silver Lake, has created this apartment-sized piece from colored milar. Bursting the notions of architecture, sculture and a "made-to-order" object. It creates shade, chaging colors, textures and perspectives throughout the day. It's name comes from the Disney film, "The Black Hole," where Maximillian Schell's character "Dr. Reinhold" has the mission of harnassing "the power of the vortex" to discover "the great truth of the unknown." The structure cane be seen for free but is also host to a number of lectures and classes. Open through January 8th.
1619 Silver Lake Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA

Not a Cornfield -- A project designed to reclaim a vacant, post-industrial area into a fecund agricultural center within sight of the center of downtown for one growing cycle, bringing "focus for reflection and action in a city unclear about the location of its energetic and historic center. The cornfield is about land as art and is used for lectures, tours, and other cultural gatherings. The corn is now in its "Gold Phase" and is nine feet tall. It will be open through the first weekend in December.
1201 North Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA

Vote!!

Sorry about yesterday. Blah blah technical problems blah blah blah.

In other news -- vote already!

Gone...

On October 28, 1966, commuters between Malibu and the Valley were surprised by the image of a large, running depiction of a naked woman. Sixty feet tall, painted in pink house paint, she was quickly dubbed The Pink Lady.

At first, there was much speculation as to the artist and the purpose of such an image. Due to the subject matter, it was assumed to be a man. It turned out that this mysterious image was created by housewife and secretary, Lynn Seemayer, who had sketched her, unnoticed for 3 months before painting her in an 11 hour marathon of work.

She decided to do it for a number of reasons, one being that the tunnel was an eyesore, and that it was always covered in graffitti. Orginally, she planned to paint a bird, but this turned out not to be feasible, due to space constraints.

...But Not Forgotten

The Pink Lady had a short, controversial life. In fact, the only reason Lynn Seemayer came forward as the artist was to spare her creation from destruction.

Two days into her existence, the Pink Lady was deemed a traffic hazard. Immediately, the city began to try to destroy it. Spraying it with firehoses and rubbing her with paint thinner only seemed to make her shine brighter. It seemed miraculous. But it wasn't enough.

Despite the efforts of Seemayer and other supporters of the Lady, she was brought down on November 4th, 1966 with fourteen gallons of brown paint. For years afterward, her blotted image continued to tantilize the public, making her story into legend as locals told tourists and parents told children of her.

Seemayer herself, suffered a good deal from the debacle. She recieved marriage proposals and death threats; people wanted to touch her, to display her art, to get her autograph. One woman accused her of all rapes. Another thought she had painted her missing daughter. She lost her job and became very ill due to the stress. Though she eventually sued the city for invasion of privacy and destruction of her work (the suit was unsuccessful.) She claims she never really wanted money anyway, that she was compelled to make the image, that all she wanted "was to do something that was [her] own."

Autumn in Los Angeles

They say that Los Angeles has no seasons. But in the fall, just like everyone else, we have trees that change color. In among the ever green, there are liquid ambers and maple trees all decked out in flaming color. Even if it is 90 degrees out.

Doo Dah!

You thought that the wacky fun ended with Halloween -- but you were wrong! On the 20th day of November, they throw the 29th Annual Doo Dah Parade in Pasadena to benefit the Light Bringer Project, a non profit arts organization. It began as a spoof of the Rose Parade and has ballooned into a full fledged event of its own, including such diverse groups as the Briefcase Drill Team and the West Hollywood Cheerleaders. Just about anyone can be Queen and everyone who applies gets to be in the court.

The day's events begin with a $5.00 Pancake Breakfast, held at the Pasadena Senior Center (make some old person's day and show up in your weirdest G-rated gear!) Things wrap up with the afterparty at the Old Towne Pub.

Grass Sighting!

The first rains have come and, as it does just a little bit later, on vacant lots and hillsides, in the secret glades guarded by hills and mountainsides, the fragile green of grass begins to show. In Los Angeles, we have spring and autumn at once. If we're lucky, it'll be long in January and we'll have something of a spring when it blooms with wildflowers before the summer heat turns it to tinder.

The Hippest of Beggars

One thinks of homeless people as existing outside of the discourse of pop culture. However, this guy is plugged in enough to know how cool ninjas are! And should be paid just for coming up with the sign.

Day of the Dead

Dia de Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead celebrations date back to the indigenous tribes of Central and South America. The Aztec people had similar celebration (though it was in August and a month longer), honoring children and the dead. Central to its observation, was the goddess Mictecacihuatl of the underworld, known as the Lady of the Dead. It was the Aztecs who used marigolds to draw the spirits to the items placed at their graves for their enjoyment -- candy, toys for the children and alcohol. When the Spanish arrived in the 1400s, they combined their Catholic ways with local traditions and Dia de Los Muertos as we know it, was born.

Today, many build altars in their homes, but they also celebrate in graveyards, in some parts of Mexico, it is even customary to spend the night at graveyards. Some people write joking epitaphs of friends, special foods are prepared for the day (such as sugar skulls and Bread of the dead -- in shapes of rabbits or skulls.) Often cartoons with skeletons in them appear in the paper.

It's too bad that this day isn't celebrated all over the city, as we could all do with a little time to remember our loved ones and celebrate their lives.

kuaptic.

Wednesday, November 30, 2005

Stealing Hollywood

Tuesday, November 29, 2005

Ed, We Hardly New Ye

Monday, November 28, 2005

Last Chance

Wednesday, November 23, 2005

Magnolia

Tuesday, November 22, 2005

In the Beginning

Thanksgiving Day Suggestion

Friday, November 18, 2005

Hungry Cat

I See Hawks in LA

Why you Shouldn't Tailgate

Thursday, November 17, 2005

Get on Your Pajamas, It's time for a party!

Wednesday, November 16, 2005

What's that in the Road?

Brenda You

Tuesday, November 15, 2005

Fire Scorches Venice

Ed

Monday, November 14, 2005

Tail O'the Pupdate

Friday, November 11, 2005

"That's One Way of Doing it."

The IRS Gets Up in God's Grill

Thursday, November 10, 2005

Casa Bianca Pizza Pie

Succulents

Wednesday, November 09, 2005

Old School Couch

Tuesday, November 08, 2005

Big Art

Vote!!

Friday, November 04, 2005

Gone...

...But Not Forgotten

Thursday, November 03, 2005

Autumn in Los Angeles

Doo Dah!

Wednesday, November 02, 2005

Grass Sighting!

Tuesday, November 01, 2005

The Hippest of Beggars

Day of the Dead

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