My Creative Friends: Scott at Ten10

So I've been meaning to do an entry on my friend Scott Nadeau and his shop Ten10 for quite some time now. But I wanted to do it justice, get some nice picts and think it through a bit. But this morning Mr. Scott greeted me from the front page of the LA Times Home section and screamed "Good God Man, what are you waiting for?!"

Scott is one of the first business owners I met in Silver Lake when I moved here, and he's been a gracious man ever since. I've bought several pieces from him, so maybe he's just a good business man...or maybe its just that he tolerates me so he can spend quality time with my dog Lu. Regardless, he's a good guy and has exceptional taste in furniture, pottery, and sculpture.

Recently he has helped revive the careers of a handful of California area mid-century designers and artists. Stan Bitters, a sculptor and ceramics artist has gotten a helpful boost from Scott's enthusiasm for his work. So has the late David Wilkens. Who had an eponymous gallery show of his work curated by Scott. Each have had small articles in the LA Times recently.

Scott himself is a bit of a designer having developed a series of sofa's, chairs, and lamps that he sells exclusively in his store.I happen to have one of his couches in my living room (now covered in Lu hair unfortunately). As well, he and his father collaborated on a portable Fire Pit that I bought for my dad to use on his fishing trips.

Scott has a passion for clean lines and natural materials. Much of Ten10's products are dedicated to either things like Architectural pottery that bring structure to the natural environment or sculpture that brings an organic sense to ones living room.

I'll snap some pictures this weekend and elaborate on this posting, but I wanted to get something up because I had actually noticed quite a few people landing on my page after doing a search for Scott's name. The picture above is the top of one of Stan Bitters' "totem" sculptures that have been available at Ten10.

Ghost Ride The Whip

The title refers to a ridiculous phenomenon that’s been sweeping the burbs. Kids get out of their rides while its still moving and proceed to dance around like idiots and sit on the top of the car while it careens into a tree, lamppost or another car. Brilliant (to paraphrase the English)!

But this entry really isn't about fools smashin up their parent’s rides. It's about realestate. My experience with it so far.
It really is like riding a car with no driver...or it at least feels like it. Allow me to explain.

My fiancé Jenny and I decided to get a place of our own. A place that we could start fresh in and grow into together instead of moving into one of our current places where one of us might feel out of place. Jenny currently owned a condo. So the first goal was to sell her place then roll the money over into our new place. So first things first, Jenny and I had to find an agent to sell her place. We decided to interview 3 different agents. All had slightly different pitches...but it was difficult to gauge who they truly were. I mean, it’s like trying to hire your own car salesman or lawyer....people we love to loath and hate to deal with. Hiring the devil essentially. So we decided on an agent and off we go, Jenny and I dance around the car while the invisible ghost we've just hired steers the car (or so we hope). The car (which is actually Jenny's home mind you) veered close to crashing then veered back on track. Finally, the ghost closed the deal and we were back in control of our path.

During this whole process, we found a house that we became enchanted with. So, you could think of it as two cars running side by side....Jenny and I trying to keep both from colliding, dancing around like witch doctors trying to cure the bizarre real-estate spells (i.e. forms and contingencies and the like).

Jenny and I still haven't completely regained control of our path, but we've gotten a good hold on the door and the car seems to be running straight. So lets hope it all ends well. I'll keep you updated.

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Hey kids, sorry about the lack of postings...super busy, stressed, lithargic. I have managed to aquire a proper Flickr account and will be trying to post more photos there. Point your browser here and check back often. I'll try to organize it a bit better as well.

Sunset Junction, What's Your Function?

Regrettably I missed the Fuck Yeah fest this last weekend. It looked like a good line-up. My impression is, despite the 20dollar a day price-tag, that its integrity and passion for "underground and local" talent seems legit. At the very least, it seems like a solid weekend of booze and music. Seemingly unlike another local festival that arrives this upcoming weekend. Yeah, I'm talking about the Junction. Sadly, this festival has been going down the tubes for the last few years. It has been debated that the festival has been flawed from the get-go. Regardless, this year a festival that was supposed to be a fund-raiser and community-building event now also carries a comparatively steep entrance fee of a mandatory 15bucks at prime time. I remember when the event had a suggested donation of 5 dollars.

A mailing list I’m on has developed a flurried dialogue on the whole thing. Much of it about the question of whether its lawfull to force a price on the public for an entrance fee. There has also been talk of whether or not the person organizing the event is really donating all the money to youth organizations as he promises he does. Every year more questions and more problems arrise and the character slowly gets stripped away...

"OK, the fee ($12.00 before 4 PM, $15.00 after) is mandatory. The City Attorney did an investigation and nowhere in the City charter does it say someone using the city streets must let people in for free. The City Council members Garcitti's staff and two members of the Silver Lake Neighbor Council have been in negations with the Sunset Junction organizers to work out the following for the affected community: The neighbors one block north and one block south of Sunset from Bates to Edgcliff are entitled to two wrist bands per day per house hold. All they need to do is bring ID or something with their address to the
Sunset Junction office (Tsunamis cafe on Sunset and Sanborn) Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday of this week to get the wristbands. Also, in public meetings the fair organizer, Michael McKinley, has stated that no one will be turned away for lack of funds...."

Response: "I'd rather just boycott it instead...anyone interested in playing Mr. T's this Saturday night right back...."

Another observation on the new VIP section of the festival went something like this:

"This weekend's festival will have a "first-ever VIP hospitality lounge." It will be at the Cliff's Edge restaurant on Sunset, where the flakkery says that "headliners from the street fair and other special guests and celebrities can relax in The Oronoco Green Room, a custom-created environment that showcases the latest music-inspired trends and environmentally-friendly fashion and design." It's nice that they are finally carving out a special refuge for celebrities at Sunset Junction."

Response: I'm seeing the last pillars of Silver Lake's unpretentiousness crumble before my eyes. How sad that so few down to earth voices are left in this neighborhood to protest this latest concession to the phony and elitist Westside celebrity worship bullshit we were once immune from. ...
"A special refuge for celebrities", Yes, God forbid they have to come in contact with the rest of us. (there was a time when the bands actually were us.)The "environmentally friendly" design must be a catch-phrase for excluding any "non-celebrities" and normal people who might be seen and could offend the eye.
Perhaps what we really need is a "special refuge" from the "latest music-inspired trends and environmentally-friendly fashion and design." I just wanted to put the word out that not everyone here believes this hype or buys into this Bullshit. Many, like you, may try to create your own world within a world here in Silver Lake but the truth lives on here and will hopefully rise up to bite you on your lipo'd asses while you're savoring your Silver Lake gelato. I believe that this event was founded on the principal of peace, unity and tolerance among ALL the constituents of the Sunset Junction community. The Sunset Junction Street Fair has officially SOLD-OUT, and I don't mean tickets.

Just some food for thought. Me, well, I'm probably going to hit the Junction on Sunday simply because I want to check out The Cramps, a band I've always wanted to see. I'll be sure to feel a bit ashamed. Watch out Junction, I have a feeling in future years people will be saying Fuck Yeah.

Oh, by the way, I'm hoping to sell some Silver Lake Air Freshners at the Junction, so for no other reason maybe the event will fulfill some selfish marketing needs.

I See Crabs in LA

This last Sunday Jenny and I stopped by Cliffs Edge restaurant for brunch to celebrate Jenny's official moving out of her condo and our official co-habitation.

If you're not in the know, Cliffs Edge is a hidden gem located right next door to the 99cent store on Sunset in Silver Lake. Enter the not descript parking lot (its so in not to have a sign on your joint here) and enter an oasis of Mediterranean charm. There is seating inside and out....but I really wouldn't know why you'd want to sit inside this place..the patio and terrace areas are what really makes this place special (ambiance wise). The place is managed by Pierre Casanova, who was formerly at Les Deux Cafes and Little Door. Makes sense.

The crowd is definitely more high-end then I'm used to seeing at a Silver Lake establishment.

We sat down and drooled over the menu for a bit. Nothing too out there, but tempting versions of standard Brunch food. Jenny ordered a spinach omelet with gruyere cheese and I ordered the poached eggs with crab hash and salsa. Jenny's omelet was damn good. I know, omelets are omelets...but the cheese definitely amped it up a notch. It was served with a Brioche toast that had some sort of fresh fruit compote spread...peach and orange rind maybe. Solid. But I have to say, if for nothing else, my egg dish was reason enough to visit this place. Small but perfectly poached eggs topped with a red and green salsa and sour cream sat upon a layer of crisp hash-browns and.....wait for it.....a mass of LUMP CRAB MEAT. Oh man, I’m telling you up until now I had yet to actually taste real crab in LA. Whenever I order crab-cakes anywhere in LA its always minced to hell and smothered in breadcrumbs or some crap. This was just pure chunks of crabmeat. Bliss. I don't think it was Blue Crab, but I’ll let that slide.

I had an expensive but tasty Bloody Mary to accompany the meal. The glass was rimmed with crab seasoning, a perfect compliment.

Since it was a celebration, we didn't stop there. We ordered a desert as well. Caramelized pear crepe with mascarpone ice cream. Jenny loved this dish. Not too sweet, but delish.

We let our meal settle and people watched (Mrs. Bestor walked in of course, and yet again didn't say hi....harrumph!). I then jetted over to Luxe for my haircut and stopped by Giant Robot for a toy fix. All in all a pretty good Sunday.

We'll be back for Dinner to this place I'm sure...or maybe another brunch and try one of their Kobe Beef Hamburgers. Cliffs Edge is at 3626 Sunset Blvd near Edge Cliff Blvd.

Tiki Teeeeeeeeeeee

O.k. kids, its been a rather stressfull few weeks. We all could use a drink. So I point you to THE original Silver Lake/Junction/Los Feliz drinking spot. There may be some who have been around for longer (The Dresden perhaps) but the Tiki Ti is the epitome of what makes the area great.

The location. A tiny closet of a building that was once a Violin repair shop as well as the Republican local headquarters.

The owner. Three generations of the same family. Cooperatively owned. Opened by truely a revolutionary bar-tender who was witness and part of the Exotic Drink revolution in the 30's.

The decor. Cluttered with stuff beyond kitsch and bordering on obsession.

The hours. These guys are open when they want to be open and closed when they don't feel like being open.

The drinks. Expensive yes, powerful YES, delicious HELL YES. Don't dare order a beer, and if sweet drinks aren't what you're looking for then drop your seat over at one of the other venues....don't matter to them.

There are many things annoying about the Tiki Ti. Many of the regulars are ugly drunks. The periodic screaming of TORO eventually gets on your nerves. Its gets so damn crowded its hard to move. But that withstanding the joint is an original and should be cherished.

Please read about Ray, the original owner. An amazing guy. I was proud to have seen him pour.

I'm glad to see the place finally has a website. Its cluttered but filled with character, just like the joint.

Skid Row

I'd like to mention an interesting dialogue that I've been following on my friend Spencer's blog Leftcoast Breakdown. The debate is about the seeming gentrification of Downtown Los Angeles. Over the last 5 years, LA has been making a concerted effort to "rejuvinate" its downtown. New shops and restaurants have been popping up, and more visibly Loft and Condo's have been springing up like dandelions. Some of them are renovating old historic buildings and wharehouses and therefor recycling the urban environment. Some are being built on tight pieces of land crowding the already crowded area. In the midst of it all are the homeless or near homeless. Whether they are drug addicts, mentally ill, or just down and out in one way or another...there are plenty of people living on the streets down here. Both working downtown and sharing a studio space with a friend of mine, i'm able to witness the state of things on a day to day basis. Our downtown has its Skid Row like most cities. But the thing that always amazed me about it....our skid row is actually called Skid Row. I mean, there's a sign that says Skid Row. Now, the extent of the homeless population far exceeds this one small street, but this just shows how blatent the whole situation is. And how does one solve this issue. Its terribly difficult. One would hope that there would be a way to help the homeless, use whats around them to help them and rejuvinate those who are willing. But being a middle class resident of this town, I'd also like to go to some of these new venue's and not get harrassed by crack-heads and skin-and-bones prostitutes. I certainly dont have the solution, but as I always say the solution begins with debate.

So first I direct you to the OpEd piece that sparked the conversation. Then to Spencer's retort. Then the conversation that continued.

Doggie Style Update

So the owner of Doggie Style decided to do the right thing. I passed her on the street this morning, and she asked about Lu. I told her she was still healing, so she offered to pay for the vet bill. Later in the morning, she stopped by and paid me for the vet bill and much of the grooming bill. This was the right thing to do, and I give her credit for coming around. I'm still sure I wont step foot in her shop ever again.

Doggie Style?

More like doggie abuse. Those are harsh words, but I really don't know how else to describe it. What the hell am I talking about?

Well, I believe I've mentioned the store down the street from me called LA Doggie Style. A few months ago a Chimp graced their doors for a Japanese TV program and threw me for a loop. The owners are a typically nice female couple that live just a few doors down from me.

Anyway, last saturday I figured I'd pamper my dog and get her groomed at Doggie Style. Actually, when I stopped by the store early on saturday morning I only expected to try and see what their rates were. But the groomer was there and offered to do the service right then and there...all convenient. I walked back home to get my wallet while the groomer did his thing. He called me saying Lu was all ready and that they only take cash. So I picked up Lu and paid the guy....in all the excitement not getting a receipt. Lu was peppy enough, and oddly kept shaking her head from time to time, but I thought nothing of it. Later in the day, she was still shaking her head and pawing at her ears. I finally got the hint and checked her ears. Inside was a lightly bloody but heavily gooey mess. It looked like something had irritated her ears, like they had been rubbed or scratched up. I was horrified. She's never had any issue with her ears before.

There was no doubt that the irritation was the result of some part of the grooming. I became more and more angry with the thought. I take my dog in for some royal treatment and instead she returns injured. What the fuck? The next day i stopped by and while the groomer was not in, I asked to speak to the owner (who i mentioned is my neighbor). She had me wait about 15 minutes and finally came out. She assured me that the irritation probably came from the groomer plucking some hairs and that it wasn't totally uncommon for her ears to be a bit irritated. She cleaned them out with a cotton ball, which Lu did not like at all. She said Lu would be fine.

Bullshit. Lu's ears are still fucked up. I deflect her paws as she tries to scratch her ears and crusty nasty stuff abounds in them. I'm taking her into the vet tomorrow. Once more, NO ONE that i've talked to who has their dog groomed has ever heard of such a thing.

I've gone through many struggles with Lu's health as of late, and the last thing i need is for my friendly local dog groomer to make her life more miserable. This is unforgivable. I don't know how these "animal lovers" can A. treat my dog so poorly and B. Not take responsibility for their actions.

It's 2:30 a.m. and I was woken up by the sound of lu shaking her head again. I can't sleep because the whole thing makes me sick. Thanks Doggie Style(LA) for fucking me in the ass.

The Hunt for The House

Many of you know that Jenny and I are currently in the midst of the great hunt for a house. It's both exhilerating and terribly frustrating at times. Its a big step and a big purchase. So many facets.

But when its the House that Captain Beefheart recorded Trout Mask Replica...what's to ask? Pshaw to the neighborhood, schools, termite inspections, and questions of whether it has central air. It has Central Vibe man. Imagine the crazy shit that happened in this house.

But seriously folks, Regretably it's not in our price-range and the "lines" aren't quite right for our couch. Ironically enough, we did see a place this last week that was renovated by one Barbara Bestor and was close to amazing. It's in a neighborhood that I'm currently infatuated with, Adams Hill. But alas, again a bit over our price and didn't have central air.

Well, the hunt must go on.

Marry-Anne or Ginger

I'm on a total Ginger kick these days. And despite the title, I'm not talking about the red-haired bombshell from Gilligan's Island (I'll always be a Mary-Anne guy, the pig-tails drive me wild). I mean, the root...more specifically the flavor of the root. The root itself is butt ugly.

Ginger Beer, Ginger Chews, Ginger Preserves, even Ginger Mojito's. It's all about the Ginger this summer.

Here's the run-down of Ginger Products I endorse.

I picked up a tin of Chimes Ginger chews while i was in Chicago. Cool retro tin, and the chews were good and spicey but virtually impossible to get out of the wrapper intact. The Ginger People make virtually the same product (without the cool tin) wrapped in wax-paper which makes it much easier to eat.

The Ginger People also make a fantastic Ginger Spread. Smear this stuff on a good piece of french bread with some Goat Cheese or butter and you've got yourself a fantastic light breakfast or snack.

For Ginger Beer, Blenheims and Jamaica's Finest make the spiciest. So spicey the fumes will make you choke if you don't watch out. I suggest drinking it out of the bottle instead of pouring it into a glass. Bundaberg makes a much more mild version, tasty with a splash of scotch or whisky.

While in Chicago, Jen and I went to Topolobampo. A high end mexican joint with fantastic Ginger Mojito's. I have yet to try and make them at home but will give you a heads up when I do.

I also love fresh Ginger Lemon Pear juice that many health food stores sell. I've seen it at Fresh Fields on the east coast and Erewhon here in LA.

That's all I have to say about that.

The Hip Elderly

I kinda feel like I wanta to look like this dude in 30 years. Not necissarily like a surly asian guy (although i am surly, and i do go to Mitsuwa alot...so maybe it could happen). But I think this guy has good style. I like his hat, his glasses, his shirt. All casual but kinda cool. Just kinda chill you know? I think there could be worse modes to be in, when in your salad days. The one thing I don't want to be, is standing in front of a BK waiting for a bus. If this dude was riding a beach cruiser, he'd be spot on.

An aside, I took these pictures...completely randomly while I was sitting at a red light driving into work. I wish I could capture gems like this more often.

More then Meets the Eye

They're filming parts of the upcoming Transformers movie in the industrial complex that includes the American Apparel building. The lot is filled with funky cars and semi's. Pictured here, you can catch a glimpse of Bumble Bee, a transformer who's alias is a yellow car. I wasn't much into the Transformers....they were a little passed my time. I was more a Shogun Warrior kid. Regardless, this may be the largest production I've seen in the lot. Stop by during the evening this weekend and you might see some cool shit going on.

Tiki Heaven

Go for the Swap Meet, stay for the movies! Or if you don't have plans yet, check out the Tiki Invasion this weekend. This place looks RAD....yeah i said it. Mission Tiki in Montclaire.

Mr. T Pities George Michael

A week or two ago, I listed Losanjealous.com as a new blog on my radar and worthy of yours. If you had any doubt, then surely you can't deny the geneous of their re-occuring segment, the Mr. T Visitors Guide. Sweet!

31 Flavors of Glendale

A little trivia to start your day. Did you know that the worlds largest ice-cream store chain got its humble beginnings in Glendale? Specifically the Adams Hill district. Irv Robbins started his own shop, Starbird, in 1945. Mr. Baskin opened up a shop in Pasadena a year later. In 1948 they join forces, and the Starbird shop becomes the first BR which steadily grows to thousands.31 flavors, one for every day of the month. Read more here.