support the figh gnarts

in the tradition of of great i HEART photoshoots, and building from the traditional i HEART mod look, the figh gnarts this weekend took to the urban and gritty landscape of los angeles streets this weekend to promote the premier of their first dance video, to be released on youtube on october 31. new friend hatnim donned her usual accessory, the beloved camera, took some fantastic photos that certainly most everyone will HEART, and even posted an entry on her own blog about the shoot. now please, support the figh gnarts.

i HEART the figh gnarts

while many will be busy this week scrounging up the last scraps of dated clothing from the picked-over racks at thrift stores in preparation for the coming weekend's frightening festivities, i will be hard at work preparing for the debut online performance of my recently formed dance duo, the figh gnarts. inspired by what is only the best musical compilation of the 20th century, the figh gnarts have developed telling dance routines to express the passion and beauty of the thoughtful lyrics and innovative beats of the abba gold album.

debuting october 31st on youtube, the first figh gnarts first single will feature choreography set to the tune of abba's sos in a delightfully ambitous performance somewhere amid the sprawling streets of the los angeles metropolis. as it is the mission of the figh gnarts to bring the love and appreciation of the fine arts to the masses, the preferable venue for this performance art is neither venerable dance hall nor reputable art house; rather, it is a place somewhere among the people with whom our paths cross on the street corners, bus stations, and sidewalks of our lives.

stay tuned for news of the figh gnarts's first video as well as exclusive information about the very first live performance!

busy bussing

i know that, by the time you finish reading this post, you may have serious doubts as to the benefits of riding two wheels and, more specifically, a vehicle in the family known as vespa. in order to mitigate accusations against my beloved ride, i would like to offer this concession: over the last year, i have ridden my vespa, and i have ridden it hard. over mountains, prairies, hills, deserts, and metropolitan streets and freeways, there is little landscape that henry has yet to tread. not only has the little green guy travelled so far, but he has maintained upper speeds of 75 and 80 mph, which isn't necessarily typical of a little scooter. that is to say: if problems persist with the health of the vespa, i may be partially to blame.

henry recently spent a few nights in the hospital. after not being able to get him started earlier this week, i called the scooter shop, the towing company, and other necessary parties to find out the best course of action to get him back into working order in as little time as possible. during the few days this week that i was without a ride, i had no choice but to utilize the vast and utterly inconvenient system of public transportation in the los angeles metropolitan area. the metro, as this city's network of busses and trains is called, is not exactly confusing, but if it were, i think the problem then posed would be of little consequence due to the surplus of time one is left with while waiting for and riding a bus that is at the mercy of crammed and crowded streets that cover the expanse of the city. although the hours it takes to merely run a few errands in several points of the city have become a drag, the first few nights of sitting on the bus, pulling out a book, and actually relaxing during the hour-long traverse were welcome. suddenly, the intimate nature of a city that is so easily bypassed in a speeding ride became imminently visible when i walked a few blocks to the bus stop and used the minutes of waiting to notice the details in just one tiny section of the city. usually, i would miss the names of the 15 shops crammed into the stripmall and not even take notice of the small gallery, shop, or restaurant lining the street in my own neighborhood, let alone the bustling micro-community of another one of the countless intersections in the city.

that's why, yesterday before boarding another rambling bus, i was happy to get to know a little bit about a strip just south of beverly boulevard on la brea, one of central la's most trafficed streets. in only a few moments, i managed to gain a small appreciation for the liveliness of the neighborhood, even if it's name is less recognizable than west hollywood, los feliz, or my own beloved area, silver lake.

last night, i picked up henry, ready to roll and running smoothly. there's no replacement for a vehicle in los angeles (not to mention a two-wheeled beauty!), but it wouldn't be a suprise if i once again find myself boarding the city bus only a few blocks from my house, ready for an excursion to a new part of the city that before was merely a drive-by blur.

(thank you to my new friend hatnim for the use of her lovely photo)

i HEART ugly

although i was riding my vespa somewhere down the coast on the 405 at the time, my nationally syndycated tv debut was—apparently—a raging success. after much fan correspondence via phone calls, emails, myspace comments, blog comments, and blog postings, i am satisfied to know that, despite the lack of any spoken words on my behalf, the general public was receptive to my appearance (co-starring with the plate of hot, steaming empenadas) on ugly betty last thursday.

i would like to thank central casting, my friends at OTR for their support and quick snatch of the above photo, and my mother for growing my fan base by showing the recorded clip to her freshman algebra students. thank you.

east side

upon occasion, i have the chance to leave the raucous halls of hollywood's establishments and head to the east, east side of los angeles for a night with the true hipsters of the la scene. if you think that bearded boys and mulleted young lasses in the dingy clubs of echo park epitomize the ultra-indie scenester look, then try crossing the 5 in an attempt to see gals swigging pbr because they don't know any better, not because their penniless pockets were emptied in thrift store finds and mp3 downloads.

in the well-kept flatlands of la's highland park, near the varoius late-nite taco trucks parked along figueroa, i—along with naomi and family—ventured to see some friends of friends of friends' band play in an inconspicuous ultra-divey bar called mr. t's bowl. the bar/venue is a now-defunct bowling alley, and behind the small haphazard stage was a curtain shielding the crowd from the view of old bowling lane rubbish, piled high with wooden pins and metal railings.

when i went to order a beer at the bar, i asked for a grolsch. the bearded bartender had no idea what i was talking about, so i pointed to his "list of beers," printed on inkjet paper, hanging behind him. he rummaged through his cooler and finally found a grolsch. "i didn't even know i had that" he told me.

it was fantastic.