Site Scene in L.A.

  When people ask what I enjoy doing for fun I rarely come up with a response they were expecting. I mean, I suppose my reply depends on who is asking and why they're asking. If it's someone I'm interested in and we're on a date I usually answer as honestly as possible and let him take it from there. If I'm being asked by a potential employer then I will come up with some off-the-wall hobby like collecting rejection letters or something as equally ridiculous as the question itself. It's not so much that I enjoy being an asshole as it is there are just some things I don't like sharing with people, especially strangers. I will, however, share one of my favorite past times because I think it is something I have in common with many individuals. Here it goes - one of my favorite past times is spending hours browsing the shelves at independent bookstores. I used to make a habit of visiting my favorite shops at least once a month but that has...

Stay on track, please. After numerous delays and a budget far exceeding expectation the Expo Line is finally up and running.  I can exhale now. You see, I've been holding my breath waiting for this moment for what seems like an eternity. Up until this point, my daily commute consisted of an exhausting series of bus-to-bus and train-to-train transfers. The frustration of having buses off schedule or too crowded to stop and pick up additional passengers made for a frazzled state of mind and body. By bye bus stop - LA Brea & Jefferson Of course, even with my excitement of being able to leave all the bus travel behind I can't help but notice how very wasteful this line actually is. Logistically it really doesn't do much for alleviating westside-downtown traffic in either direction. The track runs too far south of many of the major streets like Venice, Olympic, Washington or Wilshire to be an option for passengers of regular bus lines and/or gridlock...

Taking the time this weekend to steer away from interacting with people on the web's social media networks. Instead, I am visiting with friends in person. I get such an impersonal vibe when communicating via email, text message or via Facebook or any of the other social networks. Sometimes a person needs to break away from the computer or cell phone and meet with friends and family one-on-one. That's where I am today. Yesterday was an impromptu visit out on my front porch with my neighbor and a common friend, this morning I had a visit from a friend I mostly interact with only online. This afternoon another old friend came by for a short visit and this eve I will be spending time with a long time and dear friend. Coming out of a terrible cold/flu (which I am convinced I caught while on the train) this past week has shed new light on my need for socializing and connecting with the living. It's a beautiful day in Los Angeles, I can't imagine not sharing it.

 Santa's Reject doll Woke up feeling creative this morning. It could be the weather or possibly my need to do something productive.  Whatever it is, I'm not going to argue with the desire to drag out my supplies and dig in. These days I spend so much time getting to and from work or anywhere else I need to go that I rarely have the energy for anything - like having a social life - let alone having time to make art and/or crafts. Today I am cooking up a storm of my own in the kitchen with carne asada, black beans y arroz w/Negro Modelo to wash it down. The food of inspiration. Let's see if it worls.  Cool Daddy-o neckties A brief history of my creative endeavors: I began creating a line of handcrafted jewelry and small art objects under the name Altared Motifs in the early 90s. My work was carried at the following locations: Y QUE (when it was on Heliotrope), Bus Stop, Plaza de la Raza, Self Help Graphics, Olvera Candle Shop, The Lucky Nun among other loc...

This morning I rearranged the furniture in my bedroom so that I can look out the window toward the L.A. skyline when sitting at my desk. I had just come home from a day out and fired up my computer when I heard a loud boom and saw a large cloud of black smoke. Luckily my camera was at hand because I was able to capture a few shots from the windown (top photo). I went to the corner and took another photo and was waiting for sirens - but there were none. After asking a few friends if they knew what was going on I found out it was an explosive art demonstration @ MOCA by artist Cai Guo-Qiang . I really wish I had known about this because I'm sure that was quite a display judging by what I heard and saw. Art in L.A. is another thing I love about this city.  This is what went up in smoke yesterday. Photo taken on Sun, Apr. 8, 2012 from Gold Line headed east. Temple @ Alameda in Little Tokyo. click here to watch a YouTube video of the event. It's amazing.

Chinatown @ night Photos: Linda Gamboa Bahooka - bar All Star Lanes - Eagle Rock Old L.A. Zoo picnic grounds - Griffith Park downtown L.A. Little Cave - Highland Park Don the Beachcomber - Huntington Beach Boyle Heights Hollywood Park Concert Series - Joan Jett & the Blackhearts Griffith Observatory Downtown L.A. Bankers District - Downtown L.A. Cherry Blossom Festival - Little Tokyo Tiki Ti - Los Feliz Los Angeles - Downtown Olvera Street 6th Street Bridge Downtown L.A. Clifton's - Downtown L.A. Grand Central Market - Downtown L.A. Cafe Tropical - Silver Lake Grand Performances @ The Watercourt in Downtown L.A. - Nortec Collective Angeles Crest Hank's - Downtown L.A. Rod's - Arcadia Vintage Car Show - San Pedro Casa Bianca - Eagle Rock King's Head - Santa Monica Frolic Room - Hollywood ...