June 24, 2006
June 23, 2006
Big Love, No Love
Harry Dean Stanton told me I was "a gem, a jewel". Of course he was completely boffo at the time. But he was completely right about the place we were drinking at that moment. The Bungalow Club is one of the most rediculous places in LA. I wish I could get a hold of that property and turn it into a doggie day care/boutique. Instead, they have really awful music, really cheesy clientele, overpriced cocktails made by inept bartenders and crappy service. Ouch, sounds awful, doesn't it? Nonetheless we go there after every Sit 'n Spin because they welcome our large groups and a certain someone got the group kicked out of two other places for smoking pot on the premises. And every time we go there we all complain about it but it has become easier to keep going then to find a new place.
But even Harry Dean, at 80, is willing to try new things. As long as there is a "perfect manhattan" in front of him, men to philosophize with and women to look at. And maybe flirt a little with.
June 20, 2006
St. Paul, Minnesota
The latest best-of Replacements album came out recently and the New York Times spoke to Paul Westerberg.
June 19, 2006
Where 110th Street, 29th Street & Lankershim Blvd Collide
Who the hell picks a 101 degree day to have a yard sale? Me, that's who. I thought we'd be in full June Gloom glory, but that ended a week ago. It was a slow day for sales what with the heat, the fenced yard making it difficult to see from the street and the World Cup keeping people glued to the telly in air conditioned homes and bars.
Granted, among all the cheapskates that want everything for nothing and hardly anything went for over $2, I was pleased to sell my Super Heroes Lunchbox for the asking price of $10. The guy was just about to ask for a reduction when I told him it's on ebay for $20. After we rolled the clothes rack back into the garage and carted off a station wagon full of junk to the Goodwill - and a much needed cool shower - we had our just rewards in the form of the 16 ounce chopped sirloin burger at the Steak Joynt. A cold beer never tasted so good.
We decided to roll with it, stopped at home and grabbed my portfolio and went for a drink at Barsac. This time we really did have cocktails with Robert Forster. He and his buddy Frank, who engaged us in a debate upon arrival about what came first, la crosse or soccer, were the only other people at the bar and for a while, at the restaurant. "Bob" was quiet most of the time but friendly - probably hung with Frank because Frank does all the talking anyway. Soon enough Frank asked us if we ever saw the movie 29th Street. As we were scratching our foreheads, Robert says, "It's his [Frank's] life story".
Frank wouldn't tell us the punchline to the movie and instead before leaving went to his car and got us a copy of the DVD. On his way out, Robert gave David words of encouragement and empathy on his acting career path. The sharing continued as the bartender gave us a copy of his CD and I was able to snare the owner for a few seconds who flipped through the portfolio and declared, absolutely, we'd love to have you hang here.
We went home and watched 29th Street and giggled (well, I giggled, David chortled) along with Frank and Danny Aiello and Robert Forster, who wasn't in the movie enough, but hey - at that time Quentin Tarantino was barely out of the video store and making his first steps into Cannes.
June 13, 2006
Dog Art Down Under
I thought for a second it was just another spam when I read that someone had published my artwork and they would like my address to send me a copy or three. But then I remembered a few months ago corresponding with Australia's Urban Animal.
Looking forward to the hard copies but here is the online pdf of the online page with my painting of Linkin.
June 10, 2006
The Devil Made Me Do It
The best forty bucks I think I might have ever spent was for The Black Rider. "Hot Tix" is the way to go - they offer a certain amount of twenty buck tickets to each show and I got Friday night Orchestra seats. Of course add on the happy hour dinner at Nick & Stef's, a pre show cocktail at Pinot, an intermission glass of wine and a post show cocktail with the cast (including our understudying friend Keythe Farley) at Kendall's and the "night at the theater" is not so cheap. But worth every penny in this case.
I had heard that the show's sound is muffled and mushy (I had no problem) and confusing (it's William Burroughs after all, but it had me laughing and smiling the whole way) and that people left in droves during intermission - true. David and I had those folks pegged from the get-go. Season ticket holders who had no idea what they were getting into. Too boo-hoo for them. I'm still giddy about the genius that is a collaboration between Burroughs, Tom Waits and Robert Wilson.
I'm also beside myself about the encounter I had with one of the blue-hairs during the intermission. David and I were right next to the exit door so we were to the bar in no time, but were beat by a lady and her gent who were picking up their pre-ordered drinks. She was spewing at the bartender, "Oh, my god, we were in the front row and couldn't get out, oh my god, we just couldn't leave! God, it was awful!"
I smiled at David and sang under my breath, "Disgusting."
She heard me and twirled around and said, "I know, right? It's just awful! I'm not stupid!"
I couldn't help myself - I didn't care if she heard me or not, I said, "Oh, no - you are."
And I ordered my vino and by that time the crowds were moving and she got lost within them and I'm sure after they guzzled, they left. I'm certain all weekend they will be telling their friends about it, how awful... but it just shows-to-go-ya - they can't get those magic bullets out of their heads.
June 09, 2006
Making A Deposit
We were (DJ was) hellbent on getting back to The Irish Bank this visit to San Francisco after finding it in the alley of our hotel the last time around. Glad he was because not only do they have a great list of scotches and Irish whiskeys, they have a great bowl of stew.
We ate outside in the alley since Oscar was with us and were ready to move on, but lo, the friendly waiter who was milking everybody's sympathy for his lone waiter status, said, "you don't have to leave - bring him inside!"
This establishment was NOT in the "Dog Lovers Companion to California" book and hell, I'm not tellin'!
June 06, 2006
Cold Turkey Has Got Me On The Run
God, what a muggy and sluggish week...
And speaking of slugging - I was reflecting today on a conversation I heard behind me at the concessions at the San Francisco Giants game last week. Two late twenty-something white guys in line for beer - it went something like this:
Guy #1: So, what do you think will happen to Barry after this year?
Guy #2: Well, he's definitely going to the Angels, I think.
Guy #1: Definitely. He's definitely going to the AL, so definitely the Angels.
Guy #2: If his knees last that long. Who do you think we'll get with those millions available?
Guy #1: {Answers with long explanation that I don't really recall what all...}
Guy #2: I haven't had whiskey in a month.
Guy #1: Yeah, right.
Guy #2: I swore that shit off, man. I said no whiskey and I haven't had any. I had some vodka the other night, but no whiskey, man, no way.
Guy #1: What music do you have with you, maybe we can make some trades. I got some stuff you might want to burn.
Guy #2: That'd be cool. I hope I've got something you want.
Guy #1: I'm sure you do. I've got some old Zeppelin. I've got the new Chili Peppers...I've got Tupac.
Guy #2: Oh, yeah, I could use some old school rap, man....
And with that it was my turn up at bat. Two beers and a hot dog. Hold the whiskey. Till later.
June 05, 2006
Art Imitating News
This weekend proved that my love / hate relationship with Los Angeles is severely intact.
The Hate Hate Hate Side:
As reported in the LA Times, artist Kent Twitchell's mural of fellow artist Ed Ruscha, was painted over. No warning and as of Saturday no one has taken responsibility. Public art is supposed to be protected by law and creators are to be given at least 90 days to respond in order to save them if there is an order to destroy. The worst blow is that this is not the first time it has happened to Twitchell - his "Our Woman Of The Freeway" mural was painted over by a billboard company in 1986 without warning.
The Surreal Love Side:
Only in LA can you attend a party where it is a veritable Who's Who of radio and television NEWS people with fake last names. It was like being inside the movie "Anchorman" with every reporter, sports and weather person and on-air personality from all three networks squaring off in a six bedroom house with maid's quarters and no furniture. I so wanted to grab Rob Fukazaki and tell him our Barry Bonds #715 homer story. Instead during our brief stay and two cocktails we talked mostly with Lisa Foxx, who just broke up with her boyfriend, knows too much about football players' bad behavior and is looking for a new side-kick since Ryan Seacrest has gone onto bigger and better things. Man those radio people are chatty - not that that's a bad thing!
Would love to have been a fly on the wall as word has it they were up and partying till 7AM. I wonder if that involved the pool and the eighty condoms that were bought for the party, offered in the six bathrooms and were all gone by morning.
June 01, 2006
Bay Area Visit, Day Two
Waking up in Yountville was difficult except for the dogs alerting us of their presence, the rich coffee on the stove and the crisp air outside.
After a fuzzy morning and a hearty breakfast we took a six mile walk through town, down country roads by endless acres and rows of grapevines.
Alyosha definitely had the right idea for the afternoon, but the chef was cooking and the hosts were pouring and welcoming and the grill was being christened. And speaking of christenings - one of their guests was a veteran and a former friar who lives at the Yountville Veterans Home. He informed us of two things - One, that the consensus at the home is that George Bush is evil and they are all against the war; and two, the female veterans hate the veteran widows that still live at the home. Hmm, I'm thinking Golden Girls crossed with Desperate Housewives crossed with West Wing.