Crazy Watch Requiem

One of the several eclectic characters I have been meaning to highlight in Crazy Watch has passed away.

El Circo Loco was a character I had only recently become aware of. Circo strutted his stuff along the section of Sunset Blvd that Bridged the Silver Lake area with the Sunset Junction strip. One day sitting at 7Seas munching on a fish taco I noticed a flamboyant pirate-like character across the street with a drum strapped to his chest and swinging a large ribbon while holding a silent boom box. I watched him dance his way down the street in amazement.

I told this story to the woman who cuts my hair, and she gave me the low down on El Circo Loco. He lived out of his car, and stashed an array of costumes in an alley way near Millies diner. For how long he's been doing this I'm not sure.

So on friday I recieved an e-mail stating that he had passed away and that a public ceremony would take place on Sunday. Jenny and I drove by the small park near the junction this sunday and saw a good collection of neighborhood people collecting to pay homage to Circo. Unfortunately I was unable to snap any pictures, but I found a Flickr site with some.

Good bye Circo Loco, we hardly knew ye.

Bagpipe's and David Hasselhoff

Saturday night I tagged along with Jenny as she met up with a friend of hers that was in from out of town as well as some local friends. We all met up at a new joint called the 3rd Stop. The 3rd Stop is on third street near Robertson.

I never thought I'd enjoy a hanging out in any bar-like venue in the Beverly Hills/Robertson area. I mean, this is typically Pretension Alley. But the 3rd Stop is pretty cool. An LA version of an english pub, the place has a long list of beers. Many for a reasonable price of 5 bucks. Even the Chimay is 5 bucks. As well, there is a fun menu of bar food to choose from. Wood fired pizza's, tapa's style plates of brazilian style steak, gnocchi, and whatnot.

Good Brew, good food. What else could you ask for. Well if you're of Scottish lineage like me, the Bagpipe player who made an entrance soon after we arrived was an entertaining addition. The guy was good. If that wasn't enough, soon after the Bagpipe player finished his first set, who walks in but David Hasslehoff! He only stayed for a few minutes, but he lived up to all of his cheezy persona.

So If you find yourself in the Beverly Center/Robertson area overwhelmed by annoying pretense, take the edge off at the 3rd Stop.

A Quick Update

If you didn't know, for the last week I was at Jury Duty. I got called onto a trial that lasted 7 days. 7 crazy days. So much to tell. It may take several entries. In the mean-time, I'll give you the lowdown on my weekend. Some good times...

What A Stinker

Wading through a bunch of old papers, I found yet another gem cut from the pages of Apartment 3G. Could I have known back then that my life would be effected so much by beasts such as Bubba?

In The Slaw

Just snagged a copy of the latest Built To Spill album. You In Reverse.

Like Soft Bulletin Report by the Flaming Lips, Keep It Like a Secret by BTS is one of my favorite albums of this last decade. The lyrics and song structures are just flawless to me. And like the Flaming Lips, BTS's follow up was a likable re-hashing of previous efforts. This album takes a turn down a new path. More jam oriented. Cruder production value, meandering guitar jams that aren't bad..just different. In fact, so far its pretty good. I'll have to listen to the lyrics some more, but I have a feeling there isn't anything compares to "You Were Right" or "Time Trap". This album is psychedelic pop in the breed that I love. For some, it might seem noodly though.

I saw this band once live. Doug Martsch had a cold, and his sound system konked out. I think I'll give them a second try...but from what I heard, Doug is now suffering from a detached retina.

So I think I'm set for sun-drenched day melancholy albums for the summer...I need some pick me ups. Something Groovy, Something Rockin. Anyone have any suggestions?

Edendale Photobooth

What is it about Photobooths that make people act INSANE. I think we all had a great time on friday night. But these pictures don't show "a good time", they show "a momentary lapse of muscular coordination". We truely look insane here. Regardless, I love photobooths, and the Edendale Grill has a fun one. So stop by, get yourself a drink, the calamari (really good people) and leave with a few memento's of what you look like when you loose your nut.

Monkey News

So a few weeks ago, I reported seeing a monkey in a track suit on Silver Lake Blvd. I have since learned that I was not hallucinating and that a monkey truly was standing outside of Doggie Style. I talked to the owner of the store, and she said that it was all for a Japanese TV program. OF COURSE IT WAS!!! They had brought in a mangy dog to have groomed and the monkey was supposed to be reporting the story. I'm in the process of trying to acquire photos of the event, so keep checking for Track Suit Monkey picts soon!

I'll be at Edendale Grill this evening having drinks with friends celebrating the big hook-up if anyone wants to stop by. 8:30

Kiefer Sightings

When worlds collide man. Kiefer spotted at an American Apparel. And we failed him no less. To be perfectly honest, the workers at the Robertson store suck. Even when flashing my employee card the women at the cash register refused to brake her obnoxious scowl and was less then unhelpful. Try the Little Tokyo store Kief, they've been quite nice to me and will set you up. We've got V-necks up the wazoo.

As well, Kief recently recited his thoughts on cocaine and cooking....cocaine.

Urban Canvas Pt. 3

Just a few yards down from the Still Life in Memory is one of many pieces by a local Graph artist. I know nothing about the guy, but his motif is almost always these little birds (seen flying a spaceship here) and puffy clouds ( a love cloud shapes myself). The style is great, nice bubbly lines and vivid colors. It looks like most of his stuff is allowed by the community, possibly commisioned. I'll try to start documenting his pieces. If anyone has any info on this guy (or girl) please give me a heads up.

Urban Canvas Pt. 2

The other day I told you about Jason Stadel and his Still Life in Memory piece on Glendale blvd. Today, I drove by and spotted The Bench. A standard issue park bench covered in yellow flowers. The flowers are each accompanied by a small vial of water to keep them fresh. But the real gem today, was finding Jason himself cleaning his space. When I approached the bench, I saw Jason spraying the painted wall behind it with water. Making sure it was clean and vibrant. I asked him if the bench was his piece and he nodded coyishly. I asked if it was o.k. that I take some pictures and he grunted a yes. The guy is deffinately not the social type. I had wanted to strike up a conversation with him, but respected his implied need to keep it on the downlow. Jason can be seen in the top picture.

In The Slaw

So far I'm liking the new Flaming Lips album very much. A nice departure from Yoshimi, which I kinda thought was a pale re-hashing of Soft Bulletin (an album I still don't grow tired of). Some of the songs have an early Genesis/Prog Rock feel that I love. Many have very direct political messages about the conservative right. The first two songs (and the first two singles) sort of feel seperate from the rest of the album. If I have any complaints, its kind of that the album doesn't feel as cohesive as previous efforts. A few lulls and whatnot. But definately worth the purchase (although I managed to snag a free copy).

A friend of mine swindled an incomplete copy of the new Gnarles Barkley album. The single "Going Crazy" has taken england by storm. I believe it went gold soley through iTunes downloads or something insane like that. Like the last Guerillas album, this thing is kind of sprawling and manages to squeeze out a couple of choice cuts but mixed with a bunch of filler (including the sad cover of Gone Daddy Gone). Find a way of sampling it, and pick and choose your select EP of this one.

There's A Pooch...

On My Porch!!!
(i.e., a hot bitch on my balcony)

There's A Giant Bug...

In
My
Bathroom!

DIY Is the New FWI

Magazines like Make and ReadyMade have become quite popular among the hipsters and aging hipsters. But its about time there was a more community oriented venue for people to submit their own projects. The site is called Instructables.It seems pretty cool at first glance. Projects ranging from stuff out of Popular Science to recipes for your next dinner. Check it out, and submit your own rad project.

Saucy Saturday

Its the Autry's first annual Barbeque Cook-off this saturday from 10a.m. to 5p.m. Entry is free, but I imagine it'll cost ya to get some ribs and whatnot. I'll see you there.

There Is A Raccoon

on
my
roof.

Urban Canvas

On a stretch of sidewalk along Glendale Blvd. across from Echo Park there has been some trickery going on. One day, I drive by, and there's a bench covered in Yellow Flowers.....the next day, no flowers. O.k. Monkey's in track suits, flowering benches....I swear guys, I'm not smokin the crack. A few days later, the bench is covered with the flowers and the wall behind it is partially painted orange. So the other day, I take my camera along on my way to work. The bench is gone again, but just down the street, a mirrored trash can! I described it all to Jenny and she spotted an article in the LA Times that explained it all (although it was fun letting it be a mystery).

The urban instillation is constantly in a state of flux. Its a process piece created by Jason Stadel called Still Life in Memory. Evidently the whole project took a lot of finagling through the department of public works. Jason is an Echo Park resident and works at the Hammer Museum. The bench and its surroundings represent an exercise in collective memory. It's about what people remember and forget.

The bench, which I have yet to see up close, is covered with real flowers, a total of 450 of them, all with vials of water that keep the flowers fresh. I'll keep my camera handy and try and catch a photo of it, you know, if i don't forget.

The instillation will continue through the 10th of this month.

Silverman's Ceramics

Last Saturday, Jenny and I hoofed it down to Chinatown for the opening reception of Adam Silverman’s one man show at Flux ceramics. Flux is a relatively new shop near Chung King Court. Jen and I met the owners during the SRL performance the other month. You may remember me mentioning Adam’s Atwater Pottery around the holidays. The picture above is of a bowl Jenny bought at his sale during the holidays.

The works in the show at Flux are pricey, but gorgeous. His “glazes” create a lush array of craters and bumps. This in combination with smooth pristine elements and an array of color schemes makes for a truly elegant collection. If you have the means, I highly recommend Adam’s work. Most pieces in the show exceed a hundred bucks (most, much larger then Jenny's bowl), his holiday sale discounts significantly. Either way, you wouldn’t be disappointed. Check out the show while its up through this month. The gallery is open noon to 8 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays at 943 N. Hill St. in Los Angeles; (213) 621-4011.

Before the show, Jenny and I hit TiGeorges for dinner. We had the Conch which was tender and yummy. TiGeorges just got featured on Huell Howsers show so there was quite a crowd.