Travels near and far: vintage finds

Thought that by getting an iPhone I'd be posting more frequently but that has definitely not been the case.  Along with preferring to blog from my laptop, I've been swamped at work and putting the finishing touches on ANAMU on the side. I have however been able to do some fun travels: girls desert weekend for my friend Caitlin's birthday and New Orleans for Shoe Drops in local schools. Check out this great news piece we got for that last week!

Lots of highlights from both but my favorite thing about traveling is scouring local thrift/antique/vintage shops.

In the desert, we were ecstatic (see photo) to pop into Mc Whorter's shop. A very fitting name becuase it was literally the most crammed and dusty place I've ever been in.

... but, that made my findings that much more exciting. I couldn't resist the gaudiness of these diamond wall pieces that scream 1950's/60's Palm Springs. The bag was twenty-five cents (!) and I'm really looking forward to getting it polished and perhaps adding some metal studs along the top-front edge.

Didn't get much shopping time in New Orleans since I was there for work but I managed to squeeze it in two hours before my flight departed (was SO tempted to "miss" it once I saw how great the shops on Magazine Street were!).

Scored a sweet glassware set of 6 to add to my newly realized collection. It started when I purchased a set of retro glasses in Kentucky last year...I still dream about that little antique shop off of Mountain Parkway.

Check out the silver brims on these via NOLA...

My parents laugh at me every time I come home from a trip because they know I'm going to say "look at what I found!!!"

Some people collect shot glasses, others buy magnets...I'm a traveling vintage shopaholic and I am proud of it.

East Village San Diego: Impressed

Spent the day in Downtown San Diego yesterday working from Hive Haus (an incredibly awesome collaborative workspace) and really fell in love with the East Village district where their retro-fitted building is located. On our walk to lunch I spotted this residential building that incorporated shipping containers in its facade. Would love to see if they are utilized inside too....should have knocked on someones door!

This neighborhood is still considered to be up and coming but I think its already arrived. It had great buildings, great shops and restaurants, and even rad astro turf patches on some of the sidewalks. There's a grittier side to it the further east you go but even that didn't feel too bad; it looked like Disneyland compared to some emerging areas of Downtown LA.

Every time I'm in SD I feel like I could move there....but then I get back home to LA and remember how much I love the endless opportunities this expansive city offers. Even if I do have to sit in traffic once in a while to take advantage of them all :)

**Shout out to Dave Brown of Holiday Matinee for hosting an awesome party, Cause for Drinks, where we raised over $1,000 for FOT!!!

Berzerks welcome

The last time I went to the circus I was four years old and remember thinking that the clowns were totally lame. Well, I'm all grown up now and on Friday I experienced Cirque Berzerk. This was not your typical circus: no unnecessarily trained animals for show, no fluffy cotton candy, and no snotty little kids running around (I love kids and will be an auntie in December, thank you very much).

Berzerk was truly a world of its own. I felt like I had been transported in time - perhaps the 20's or 30's - and the latest side-show made a pit stop in town.  There were gothic-ish burlesque dancers/fire throwers/fire eaters, amazing acrobatics a la Cirque de Sole, and even a bad-ass zombie hip-hop number. The story line was extremely cohesive and unexpected for a "circus" (there's goth and zombies involved, so yes, it's about death).

Next to the big tent there was a vendor area for food, drinks, shopping, and dancing courtesy of a Vaudeville band. Everything had an edgy yet welcoming feel...everyone was happy to be there. All of this set in Los Angeles Historic State Park made it feel like we were a part of a little secret in the middle of LA and in a completely different world for a few hours.

I believe that this was their last weekend in town but there's rumors that they might extend the shows...everyone must check this out if they can.

Oh, and we found Superman's kryptonite...

The bobble head touch

Got to the game early, got my Man Ram bobble head, got my dodger dog, and then got to see a moment to be written in the record books: Ramirez hit a grand-slam in his first and only swing of the game...the first ever Dodger to do so on his own bobble head night. The stadium went nutts and the value of that little bouncing figuring just went up :) Manny stepping up to the plate...

Will play substitute

Andrew Bird's show at the Greek held a spot on my calendar for months but I never bought tickets. On the day of the show I looked at my schedule and thought, hmmm, perhaps I'll end up going somehow.... Sure enough, I got an invite a few hours later. I can thank my friend Kai Brown for that since he couldn't make it and offered up his ticket. That was last week. Yesterday I got a last minute invite to see Jet at the Key Club. The original show buddy got sick the day before so I was the lucky beneficiary of yet another free ticket. It was the perfect opportunity for my high-school friend and I to catch up and see a band that I hadn't listened to in years!

We talked about getting tickets to see The Sounds later this month but they're all sold out. Planning can be overrated.

Crafty Saturday downtown

It's been too long since I spent a day downtown. Thankfully I had an excuse to go. Needed to buy some jewelry and bag supplies and as always, my friend Jose at the bead store knew how to up sell me - I can't go in there with a budget because it immediately gets thrown out the window. He's going to drill holes in some vintage brass pieces for me and I can't wait to pick them up next Saturday!

Also waiting for me next weekend will be a custom-made tank by Apliiq. Joe of 213 etc took me to Apliiq's workshop where the customer is the designer. I picked out (unknowingly but not surprisingly) a vintage fabric for Ethan, the owner, to cut and sew patches onto my selected tank with.

Even though I could do it myself, it's nice to support someone that's taking a simple concept and creating a new shopping experience with it. I had a lot of fun seeing what he does and has to offer.

The rest of the day consisted of lunch at Blu LA Cafe (delicious portaballo burger on brioche bread) and some perusing at the Renegade Craft Fair. Perfect day, absolutely perfect.

Phoenix: Yes, the best show ever. Recap and other reviews

Seeing Phoenix Sunday night at the Wiltern was truly the most fun I have ever had at a show. I haven't danced and smiled that much at a concert since The Go Team! played the Glass House in Pomona, and that was pretty phenomenal. Phoenix's performance made me feel like I was fourteen again. The only difference this time around is that I'm obsessed with musical talent versus rock hard abs and synchronized dance moves.

LAist and LA times posted some great reviews. If you have some time, definitely read the LAist one - describes the night to a T.

Honestly, in LA these kinds of shows are rare - we're usually too cool to get up and bust a move. Everyone must have been as amped to see them as I was because the whole place was going completely insane the entire night.

They'll be back in LA in September at the Greek but I think I'd rather let this show stand on it's own for now and not mess with the perfection of it all.  I'm still glowing.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9X6R9ncuqCU&feature=related]

"We're such tourist"

Yet another evening in Downtown LA discovering new favorite spots. 1. Dinner at Wurstkuche: located in J town, or Little Tokyo, they offer an extensive variety of beers and sausages. Pair that with a live DJ spinning in the main dining room that has family style seating and you've got the perfect grub place. Oh and did I mention double dipped french fries? Okay, I'm drooling on my keyboard...

2. Please post bills: Actually, we did this first while the boys stood in line at Wurstkuche. We practially jumped out of the car while it was moving because we were so excited at the awesomeness of this wall.

And this one. Yes, that's Obama smoking and wearing a sweet hat back in the days. The complete collection of these shots is on view at M+B

Even more beautiful than the words of this riddle is that it's on the side of a trash bin...

3. Rooftop wine tasting and movie at Downtown Independent: just opened six months ago and I was super impressed by the place. Modern, extremely comfortable seats, and great staff. Can't wait to go back.

4. Bar 107: Night cap where we saw Julia Stiles. Funny because we saw her in NYC last fall at another hole in the wall bar...coincidence or is she just stalking us?

Colombia!

... "The only risk is wanting to stay." This is one of the new tourism campaign slogans and it's perfect. Colombia has such a bad rep from the Escobar times of the past and the guerrilla warfare but in all honesty, things are just that ... in the past. Of course there's still unrest but it's so remote and isolated that it's almost comparable to living in LA or any major city: you know where not to walk by yourself late at night. Stepping off my soap box ... Colombia was great. I've been there several times (Pereira where my family lives, specifically) so I didn't do much sight seeing or activities this time around. This trip was about being with family and mission was accomplished. Got some quality moments with the grandparents, aunts, cousins, and I miss them already.

Can't wait to return but next time I'll swing by the capitol, Bogota, and the coast of Santa Marta where the women of the Wayuu Indians weave incredible textiles (and the beaches there are gorgeous).

Some photos to share!

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Girl Crush

Saw St. Vincent at The El Rey and I must say...she's awesome. I knew she had an impeccable voice and style but seeing her live took things to a different level. Seriously talented.

When the cosmos allign

My friend Allie is a BIG street art fan and today she introduced me to the artist Chase who is renown for his eyeball murals and positive messages. She showed me his website and I thought he was pretty cool but didn't think of anything else beyond that.

After work I swung by Dorty's place in Venice to pick up the new Phoenix album (AMAZING btw - can't wait to see them live next month!) and I notice an artist working on a wall down the street.

Looks familiar...big eyeballs, bright colors....OMG I think that's the artist Allie was just raving about!!! I call Allie, she's already half way to Silver Lake, so I turn around to find out if it's him.

I illegally park since parking is impossible at that time of day, put on the hazards, and walk up to the artist in action.

Yes, it was Chase and he was so sweet. Completely humble and got a kick out of the the fact that I had just learned about him two hours prior and was setting him up on a date with Allie for the next day (when he'll finish the mural).

I get in the car, call Allie again and we are both so excited about this almost serendipitous moment!!! She seriously loves this guy's work.

Check out Allie's new blog STOPandLOOK where she has begun to post some of her favorite street art encounters in LA and abroad.

PS - I leave for Colombia tomorrow... can't wait to see my family, hug my grandparents, and lay in the hammock at our little ranch on the weekend!!!!!

3-2, 11th inning win. Go Blue