Hamburgers and Heavy Metal-LA’s Newest Food Truck #DTLA
December 13, 2009
“Heavy Metal and cult culture fill your head with so many visions and ideas. They make your soul glow with the unholy light and create sensations to the senses. But still they leave your stomach empty and sad. Take heed heshers: Grill ‘Em All is here to fill the void that music and mayhem can not. Enter the realm of the burger.
Grill ‘Em All is steadfast in the belief that the heavy metal and culinary worlds were bound to collide one day in a victorious marriage of massive meat and riffage. Where better for this battle to commence than in the city of fallen angels? Los Angeles, your cries in the night have been answered. Cry no more!Grill ‘Em All is led into the burger battle by the team of Chef Ryan Harkins and Matthew Chernus. The two have been allies and band mates for over twenty years. Ryan has paid his dues as a veteran of professional kitchens for over a decade strong, having worked in Chicago, Los Angeles, St. Louis, Columbus and Cleveland, Ohio. The combination of his fine dining background and strong Midwestern roots has left him with the desire to place a gourmet take on his first love, the hamburger. Dare to stop him! Matthew, also beckoned as the Future of America, is an ex-professional wrestler and he owns a megaphone. Need I say more on his behalf? I dare not in fear of being Liger Bombed through a barbed wire board with black widows and broken forties of King Cobra beneath.
Together they are ready to turn the key, they are ready to hit the streets, and they are ready to… GRILL ‘EM ALL!”
See the menu below:
I just added Grill ‘Em All on Twitter. I’m hoping I can find out if they’re going to have veggie and/or turkey patties available. I don’t do red meat.
UPDATE: I just received this tweet from Grill ‘Em Already:
-
GrillEmAllTruck
@missenscene Carcass: veggie pattie, guacamole, pico de gallo, frizzled onions. Plus you can make any burg veggie for $2 extra.
December Art Walk…
December 11, 2009
I was SO late to Art Walk this month. But, it was better to go for 45 minutes, than not at all. I was super rushed, but I did manage to take a few photos. I noticed tons and tons of food trucks this month. And, even though it was freezing, people were still out and about looking at art. The people watching is simply the best. That, in itself, is a reason to go to art walk every month…seriously.
Don’t Taste the Snow at the Grove
December 11, 2009
FYI, it snows at the Grove during the Holiday Season.
My friends and I were at an event for Nylon Magazine at PacSun. We decided to step outside. Just as we left the store, it started to snow. We ran over to the big Christmas tree, where the snow was falling. I’m from Colorado, so seeing white flakes fall from the sky is not the most magical event I’ve ever seen. But, it was fun. We opened our mouths to catch the falling white flakes (something you do when it’s really snowing). Not the best idea. The snow tasted gross. Apparently, the fake snow is made from soap.
Below, find a photo I took of Cory Kennedy at the PacSun Event. Most people don’t even know who she is. I think her story is interesting…but, I don’t exactly think she has the “it” factor down.
From wikipedia:
Cory Kennedy-Levin (born February 21, 1990) is an American fashion model, who started her career as an Internet celebrity before becoming an international model in 2006. Labeled an “It girl” by Gawker.com[1] and a “club urchin” by LA Weekly,[2] her MySpace page has garnered over 20,000 “friends”. She is managed by One Model Management, the same agency as Devon Aoki and Bridget Hall.[3] Cory runs her own blog, ItsCoryKennedy.com and also is a photographer and journalist.
Kennedy met photographer Mark Hunter (who goes by the alias “The Cobrasnake”) at a Blood Brothers concert at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles, California in the summer of 2005. He took some photographs of her for his web site and they exchanged phone numbers. In January 2006 Kennedy began an internship at his office, to fulfill a requirement from her high school for graduation.[4] Hunter’s web site featured photos of celebrities at various parties and he began bringing Kennedy. Hunter and Kennedy also began dating with the approval of her parents.
In December 2005, Hunter had posted photos of Kennedy with the title “JFK CORY KENNEDY”, which began speculation that she was somehow related to the Kennedy family[4] (she is not).
By April, Hunter had noticed every time he posted photos of Kennedy on his site, the web traffic from fashion and celebrity community sites would spike. Hunter quickly realized that Kennedy had the potential to be a star.[4] That month, as the Kennedy-Levin family visited New York City on vacation, Kennedy and Hunter visited the offices of Nylon magazine. The very next day she was in a photo shoot for an issue focused on music and MySpace, which hit news stands in June.
She was mentioned in a New York Times article about interns[5] and LA Weekly did a short article about her.[2] Then in October, she appeared in a mock music video for Good Charlotte’s “Keep Your Hands Off My Girl”, directed by Nylon‘s editor-in-chief Marvin Scott Jarrett. The entire clip is shot from a single camera at a fixed angle, and consists of Kennedy shaking salt and pepper to the beat while eating Indian food and listening to the song on a portable music player. The viral video became one of the most popular videos on the Web.[4] She is very good friends with fashion designer Jeremy Scott.[6]
Her parents had known about her exposure online but had not realized the extent to which it had grown until the June issue of Nylon appeared. Because Kennedy had been previously treated for clinical depression, their primary concern had been her health and well-being. By September 2006, her celebrity life began to conflict with her home and school life. Kennedy and Hunter had broken up, but she was still accompanying him to parties mid-week and staying out late, usually not coming home until two or three in the morning.[4]
Worrying for her education, her parents had her placed in a boarding school, a “nonpublic therapeutic placement”[4] with limited phone and computer use, although she is free to leave on weekends. Despite this, her career has taken off, with campaigns, covers of dozens of magazines, and editorials in magazines such as Vogue.
Luxury Holiday Gift Idea #1
December 10, 2009
I just found this rad coffee table on DesignAddict.com. It’s a Willy Rizzo piece.
I love Willy Rizzo. He was a photographer and furniture designer. Hmmmm…sounds pretty familiar. He’s definitely an inspiration.
“Willy Rizzo made his name in the Sixties among Hollywood and fashion circles, shooting iconic portraits of the era’s big names that captured both the character and star quality of their sitters. Marilyn Monroe (who he famously shot at the pinnacle of her decline, just two weeks before she died) to Fred Astaire, Coco Chanel to Yves Saint-Laurent graced his lens and the resulting photographs gave Rizzo as much clout and status in the changing world of celebrity as the characters themselves.
Click here to see some of his celebrated portraits.
With a string of global editorial titles on speed dial, Rizzo made the unprecedented decision to design furniture and while we obviously admire his photographic portfolio, it’s his furniture designs that we find riveting. During the Seventies he designed several pieces of abstract modernist furniture, before giving up and returning to his photographic roots in the Eighties. It’s hence no surprise that his furniture designs have become incredibly collectible, a product of their combined rarity and the design world’s reignited passion for modernist furniture.”
Click here to see Rizzo’s furniture.
The above Willy Rizzo coffee table would make the perfect gift for the art-loving friend/lover/relative who has everything. Since Rizzo pieces are so collectible, the piece is also an investment. I love furniture that serves more than one purpose. The hidden bar reminds me so much of a table Don Draper would have in his office. I know this table wasn’t manufactured until the 1970s. But, perhaps, if the show continues on long enough, Set Decorator Amy Wells and Production Designer Dan Bishop, may just have to include one of these in Draper’s office…assuming he will have his own office, once again.
See more photos of the cool coffee table/bar below:
This piece is located in Belgium, so be sure and add a few thousand dollars onto the price for shipping.
Tony’s Holiday Party: A Gift to the Arts District
December 9, 2009
Living in the Arts District definitely has a lot of benefits. I love my neighbors. Most of them are fellow artists, designers or writers. In the last few years, we’ve definitely formed a strong community. When you live in the Arts District, some of your best friends are most likely your neighbors. I think it’s hard to say that about many places in LA.
We really don’t need to leave our neighborhood. We can walk to some of LA’s best restaurants, and hippest bars. Okay, we could use a Trader Joes. But, we’re pretty much self-contained east-siders.
Last night, Tony’s Saloon, another one of Cedd Moses’ genius 213 ventures was the place to be. The first (hopefully annual) Arts District Holiday Party took place at the cozy bar. From 8-11, Arts District residents received complimentary cocktails. I showed up in the 8 o’clock hour. So, needless to say, I received more complimentary drinks than I probably should have consumed. But, since I live right around the corner, I didn’t need to be driving. When in Rome…..
By 10pm, the bar was packed. I saw so many of my neighbors. We swapped downtown stories, danced and played pool & ping pong. (Tony’s is known for their outdoor ping pong table). At 11, local Arts District band “The Branches” performed.(I hope I got their name right.) I was quite impressed by their sound. They have a very Old 97’s feel to them– indie folk. I liked it. Apparently most of my neighbors did, as well.
Around Midnight, Tony’s was still packed. I left before the tree decorating began. I wanted to stay, but I had to get up super early today. But, I must say, Tony’s hosted one of the best Holiday parties I’ve been to in a long time–and I’ve been to some amazing Entertainment Holiday Parties in my day. What I loved most about the party last night, is that Tony’s allowed us to celebrate the holidays, AND the wonderful sense of community we have, here, in the Arts District… See more photos below.
*Special thanks to Skyler Reeves
Irving Penn @ The Getty
December 6, 2009
IRVING PENN: SMALL TRADES
September 9th 2009-January 10th 2010 @ THE GETTY CENTER
I just got back from the large exhibit of Small Trades photos. I love photography. Not only is an art, it documents history. Irving Penn’s Small Trades, is a great example of a work of art that captures history. The exhibit was especially meaningful, as Penn passed away quite recently.
From the Getty Website:
“Working in Paris, London, and New York in the early 1950s, photographer Irving Penn (American, 1917–2009) created masterful representations of skilled tradespeople dressed in work clothes and carrying the tools of their occupations. A neutral backdrop and natural light provided the stage on which his subjects could present themselves with dignity and pride. Penn revisited his Small Trades series over many decades, producing evermore-exacting prints, including platinum/palladium enlargements. In 2008 the J. Paul Getty Museum acquired the most comprehensive group of these images, carefully selected by the photographer—155 gelatin silver prints and 97 platinum/palladium prints—that are being exhibited in their entirety for the first time.”
Of course, no photography was permitted in the exhibit, but I did snap a few shots outside.
The Getty always provides a memorable art experience, but if you have a chance, definitely check out the Small Trades exhibit. It’s kinda fun to guess the professions of the people in the photographs, before you read the titles of the pieces.
Rodarte for Target- I Can’t Wait!
December 3, 2009
I’m not a Frugalista…Okay, maybe I am. But, certainly not a Target Frugalista, Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE Target. I just think those new ads are terrible. But, I might have a reason to change my mind–the new Rodarte for Target Collection. Since, I couldn’t travel to Paris to shop the special Rodarte event at Colette on my birthday, I might just become a Frugalista and shop the adorable collection coming out on December 20th!
From the Press Release:
Designing sisters Kate and Laura Mulleavy will be bringing their ethereal sensibility to a wider world when Target introduces Rodarte in December as part of its Go International series of limited collections.
The 55-piece Rodarte line for Go International will launch at most Target stores nationwide and on target.com on Dec. 20, and will be available through Feb. 6. While it may be hard to imagine translating Rodarte’s hand-wrought designs for the mass market, Target claims to have stayed true to the spirit of the luxury-priced label.
“What you’ll notice is an amazing eye for detail,” said Joshua Thomas, a Target spokesman. “It’s very feminine, yet very modern. The collection incorporates a rich mix of patterns and fabrications and everything from sequins and bows to faux fur. The key with Rodarte is layering.”
Prices for Target’s Go International Rodarte collection will range from $9.99 for knee-highs to $79.99 for a leopard print jacket.
*Two of the dresses in the new collection
Rodarte, which is known for evening clothes, designed “a variety of great holiday dresses,” Thomas said. “There are stand-alone pieces and pieces that can be worn together to create an ensemble by layering different patterns, textures and prints.”
I’m going to find a Target in like La Verne or Corona to get the best selection. Find your own Target…there’s a bunch. We all know the collection at Target in West Hollywood will be sold out, like, as soon as it’s put out.
* Love’ Em..Article from Marie Claire via StyleCaster
Unique Los Angeles…THIS WEEKEND in DTLA
December 3, 2009
I ran into a woman who told me her favorite ETSY designer was going to be at the UNIQUE LOS ANGELES event this weekend. Support local artists and buy “creative” gifts this year. Unique Los Angeles is the largest independent design show on the West Coast.
Your entry not only gets you unlimited re-admission for both days, it also snags you:
+ a free drink! (IZZE, Honest Tea, PABST, O.N.E. drinks)
+ an exclusive STUDIO NO. 1 Cotton Tote
+ FREE Eco Gift Wrapping at the Your Daily Thread stage in The Green Room
+ Free Workshops from designers, experts and writers for the LA Times, Dwell, 826LA and more!
+ Convenient underground all-day parking (special rate with UNIQUE validation)
When: December 5&6, 11am – 6pm both days
Where: California Market Center (110 East 9th Street – Map It)
Cost: $10, with partial proceeds going to the local non-profit 826LA! Entry gets you an exclusive-to-the-show limited edition tote bag, a free drink ticket, unlimited re-entry for both days, and access to our great lineup of free workshops. (children 12 and under are free)
Show Details: UNIQUE LOS ANGELES is an exciting two-day shopping event that showcases independent design talent at great prices – with an emphasis on “made in America” goods, 99% of products at the show are proudly made right here in the USA! On top of shopping the wide variety of offerings, the event boasts many exciting Extras & Amenities, including free workshops, a lounge area, and two cafes. Plan to spend the day with us!
New to the Show – Our special GREEN ROOM will feature over 50 eco designers!
This exciting eco-friendly area features an amazing selection of green vendors. The environmentally friendly products include everything from clothing, bath and body care, stationery, bedding, and loads more. We’ve partnered with the fab crew at the eco blog Your Daily Thread to bring you cool workshops and surprises throughout the space!
Clothing & Accessories • Stationery • Jewelry • Housewares • Artwork • Ceramics
Gourmet Edibles • Plush Toys • Books • Photography • Screenprints • Lots more!
This weekend is going to be a busy one for me. I’m definitely going to try and stop by this event. I heard the prices are amazing!
Arts District Open Studio Tour December 5th #DTLA
December 3, 2009
My neighbor, artist Lisa Solberg, sent me the information about the Arts District Open Studio tour this weekend, as her studio is one of the stops on the self-guided circuit.
ARTS DISTRICT OPEN STUDIO TOUR
Saturday, December 5th
Noon- 7pm
Downtown Los Angeles Arts District
Holiday Limousine shuttle service
WRAP AFTERPARTY @: EAST 3RD STEAKHOUSE from 7pm to 2pm hosted by Edgar Varela and Jerico.
“On December 5th, the TRUE Downtown Arts District will open the doors of cafés, galleries, performance venues, and 40 studios (and counting) in the first of a new Open Studio Tour series.
Since Bohemian squatters were followed by controversial city zoning in 1981, this turn of the century industrial neighborhood has had everything from crack dens to half-empty high-rises confusing its reputation within the city.
Regardless of public opinion (or awareness), artists, designers, architects, writers, and performers new and old have continued to make extensive and impressive work in the area. The December event is part holiday season Art Walk, part cultural reminder that the post-industrial downtown never stopped producing. The district also hosts internationally well-known graffiti walls that draw many visitors on a daily basis.
The self-guided tour will include lofts (821 Traction Ave; the Toy Factory and more), private galleries as EVFA Gallery, Tarryn & Theresa Gallery and ADC Gallery and many of the areas well-known restaurants as Metropol, Zip Fusion, e3rd and Wurstkuche. Bordered by Alameda on the west, the Los Angeles River on the east, Temple on the North and 7th Street on the South, the parameters are contiguous enough that a shuttle will make rounds on the quarter-hour.”
LOFTS AND STUDIOS PARTICIPATING: Traction Avenue Lofts (traction Avenue), Neptune Building (E. 3rd Street), Art Share LA (with group exhibition, holiday Bazaar and children performances 1pm and 5pm, Crazy Gideon store front (Traction Ave), Café Metropol (3rd Street) , 900 Building (1st/Vignes), River Front Loft (Santa Fe Ave), Toy Warehouse Loft (Santa Fe Ave), Barker Block, Toy Factory Lofts – Daniel Lahoda Fine Arts – Biscuit Lofts – 1820 Studios – LACE building (Industrial Street), Factory Place Lofts (Factory Place), EVFA (on Alameda, Seaton Street Lofts (Seaton Street)
Here are all the participants.
A – TRACTION AND 3RD STREET:
——————————-
Traction Avenue/Hewett:
Arts Share LA – www.artsharela.org – 213. 687. 4278
Gallery and Holiday Boutique Bazaar:
Qathryn Brehm – holiday bazaar -www.qathryn.com -310. 365. 6460
Sia Aryai – photography – www.fotonostalgia .com -
Paul Batou – paintings – www.paulbatou.com
Gaia Bracco -www.myspace.com/gaiapaintings,
Jessica Shokrian – photography, other – jessicashokrian.com
Kris Cahill – paintings – www.kriscahill.com-
Suzi Moon – paintings, other – www.suzimoon.net
Rick Mendoza – photography – rickmendoza.com – 26. 975. 0784 – rickmendoza@mac.com
Luisa Lorona – handmade journals, jewelry, other
Mark Walker – evolve – www.evolvelifewear.com – 917. 721. 7766
Christopher A. Como – www.christopheralancomo.blogspot.com
Lola Escarpita – www.lolaescarpita.com
Celeste Pronce – www.celesteprince.com
D – 821 Traction Loft:
——————————-
Milo Sill – #105 – Mixed media -213. 626. 3662
Robert Reynolds – # 101 – Sculptures -www.roberthreynolds.com -323. 599. 8485
Kim Abeles & Ken – # 110 – Installation, Sculpture, Photography – www.kimabeles.com -213.604.1972
Roger East – # 104 – mixed media -www.rogereastartist.com -818. 414. 4166
E – 837 Traction Loft:
—————————————————Robin De Vick – #204 – painted fabric / furniture -rldv@hotmail.com -213. 596. 1705
Jeremy Quinn / Michele Jaquis- Rise Industries – #307
- video, installation,. sound, works on paper
wwwjeremyjquinn.net -www.makemusicmike.com – www.riseindustries.org
Sia Arayi – # 310 – photography. editions-www.fotonostalgia.com – info@fotonostalgia.com 213. 617. 9001
B – 810 East 3rd Loft unit 45 – off Traction ave:
—————————————————David Hollen – Sculpture -www.hollenart.com – 213. 617. 1007
Emmeric James Konrad – live painting – emmerickonrad@yahoo.com – 213. 925. 8934
C – 808 1/2 East 3rd Loft :
—————————————————Davi Goldner – photography – www.davidgoldner.com – 213. 620. 1751 – photographics@davidgoldner.com
F – Neptune Building – 710 E. 3rd Street:
—————————————————Rick Robinson collection -# 320 – on facebook – rirobinson@macdonaldmedia.com -
Mac Donald Media offices -213. 680. 3094
Restaurants (at 3rd and Traction):
—————————————————1 – Ay Caramba – 714 Traction Ave.- Mexican Cuisine
2 – Cafe Metropol – 923 E. 3rd – Restaurant / Wine Bar – Jessica Photography and candles
www.cafemetropol.com – 213. 613. 1537
3 – East 3rd Steakhouse – 734 E. 3rd – eastern fusion cuisine -www.eastthird.com -213.820.1414
4 – Novel Cafe – Traction Ave. – Jerico Woggon – Paintings – www.cherrymeltdown.com
5 – Wurstkuche – Traction Ave. – sausage and beer
G – 1ST / 900 AND ST. FE:
—————————————————900 E. 1st street -Building:
Oloyga – # 305 – GOUP SHOW:
Ashley GIbbons
Emily Becklin
Frances Garretson
Caroline Kim
agibb13@gmail.com
H – 120 Vignes Building:
—————————————————Birgitte Moos – #202 – Paintings – www.birgittemoos.com – birgitte@birgittemoos.com – 213. 245. 7130
I – River Front lofts – 201 S. Santa Fe Ave.:
—————————————————Sharon Weinraub: – #307 – Textile design – sharon@sharonweinraubtextiles.com – 213. 392. 0332
Consuela Campos – #200 – Paintings Jewelry – www.consuelocampos.com – chachaseven@sbcglobal.net – 213. 625. 7640
Katalyst Foundation for the Arts – Gallery – #200 – www.kffta.org -
Show: John Paul Thronton – www.johnpaulthornton.com
-www. katalystfoundation@gmail.com – 213. 621. 3175
J – Toy Warehouse Loft – 215 S. Santa Fe Ave.:
—————————————————Valerie Mitchell – #8 – jewelry, wearable objects of art – www.valeriemitchell.com – valerie@valeriemitchell.com – 213. 687. 3987
K – BARKER BLOCK – 451 S. Hewitt Street:
—————————————————Barker Block:
K – BB Sales Gallery – Fumiko Amano (paintings) Richard Edson(photography)
www.barkerblock.com – sales@barkerblock.com – 213. 620. 9650
6 – Loft Appeal – Furniture and other Loft items – www.loftappeal.com – loftappeal@sbcglobal.net – 213. 625. 1725
7 – Cleveland Art – Furniture and other loft items – clevelandart.com
8 – Urth Caffe – breakfast lunch and dinner – www.urthcaffe.com – urth@urthcaffe.com – 213. 797. 4535
L – BISCUIT / TOY FACTORY/ 1855 INDUSTRIAL Str.:
—————————————————
Toy Factory Loft:
Jim and Ruth Stern – # 414 -Watercolor, Urban Landscapes, Mixed Media – ruthszoldstren@netscape.net – 323. 654. 3487
Daniel Lahoda Fine Arts – # 104 -Gallery- wwwjetsetgraffiti.com -213.415.1826 – info@lahodafinearts.com
Thomas Garner – # 517 – oil paintings – www.tomgarner.com – thgarner@belairmail.net – 310. 709. 7153
Be love yoga – # 10 – Yoga studio – www.beloveyoga.com – 310. 266. 8348
9 – ROYAL CLAYTON’S ENGLISH PUB: – british pub food – www.royalclaytonsenglishpub.com – 213. 622. 0512
M – 1820 Industrial Studios:
—————————————————Michael Chearney – # 209 – Acrylic Paintings – www.michaelchearney.com – chearneym@mac.com – 323. 334. 5820
Hope Railey – #203 – Oils/ Charcoal – www.hoperailey.com – hope@hoperailey.com – 415. 596. 8233
Tarryn Theresa – #230 – Gallery – www.tarrynteresagallery.com – 213. 627. 5100
Jerry Weems – # 217 – jerryweems2004@yahoo.com – 951. 212. 2367
Kim West – #218 – paintings – www.kimwest.com – emailkimwest@gmail.com – 323. 333. 0978
John Papapavlos – #112 – johnpapapavlos@yahoo.com – 323. 363. 5138
Walker – #213 – www.walkereads.com – 323. 333. 9230 -walkereads@sbcglobal.net
Common Space: groupshow
—————————————-
David Grieco – www.dgrieco.com -310.621.6053 -david@dgrieco.com
Peri Shefik – lamps – perihan@earthlink.net
Margery Epstein – jewelry – www.storyjewels.com – 323. 691. 9491 – m_e@storyjewels.com
Jerico Woggon – paintings/blacklight art – www.cherrymeltdown.com – jerico@cherrymeltdown.com – 213. 700. 9115
Anna Broome – paintings – www.acbroome.com – anna.broome@gmail.com – 310. 384. 0005
Lilli Muller – sculptures – www.lillimuller.com – lillim99@gmail.com – 213. 247. 8800
Yuri Elvin – Paintings – www.yurielvin.com – yurielvin@yahoo.com – 323. 823. 7766
N – LACE Building – 1804 Industrial Str.:
—————————————————Lisa Solberg – APT. A – www.lisasolberg.com – lisa@lisasolberg.com- 224. 456. 9843
P – FACTORY PLACE LOFTS – 1308 Factory Place:
—————————————————
Karen Fiorte – #111 – Printmaking – www.karenfiorto.com – 310. 868. 6058 -
ADC Contemporary Arts – Complex Building 1 – Gallery – www.artdecollectors.com – adcgallery@gmail.com – 323. 839. 5786
Ramorley Photography – #213 -www.ramorley.com – studio@ramorley.com – 310. 435. 3817
Anton Godard – #406 – acrylic paintings – godard@yahoo.com – 213. 304. 7787
Donna Louise Serone – #406 – donnaserone@yahoo.com – 626. 399. 2323
Beyond Lite – #004 – www.beyondlite.com – maria@beyondlite.com – 213. 265. 5218
Cherry Wood -#309 -oil, watercolor – www.cherrywoodstudio.com – cherry@cherrywoodstudio.com – 213. 842. 2232
Art Jordan – #306 -abstract monotypes, photography – jordanaa@pacbell.net – 213. 624. 6201
Michael Russek – #201 and 003 – www.1028designs.com – mike @10128designs.com – 310. 956. 5394
Lana Shuttleworth – # 001 – sculptural paintings – www.shuttleworth.us – 213. 505. 1749
Nancy Kay Turner – # 010 – mixed media, paper, canvas, – www.nancykayturner.com – 626. 755. 7298
O – 6th Street Lofts:
—————————————————
1259 E. 6TH STREET:
Johnny Cubert White – C- loft – photography – johnny.cubert@gmail.com -213.793. 1752
Ryan Ross – C- loft – Mixed Media – www.ryanross.com – glassrobot@gmail.com – 310. 991 . 4527
Gustavo Alberto – C loft – painting – gustoLA@hotmail.com – 310. 384. 9926
Heather Lembcke, Caroline Maxwell, Kevin Bentz
- B loft – www.heatherlembcke.com – 858. 382. 7105
1247 E. 6TH STREET:
DAP – Mark Walsh- sculptures/ metal – mark@downtownartistproject.org – 213. 620. 8599
Q – 542 S. ALAMEDA, 2nd floor / entrance Palmetto:
—————————————————
EVFA – Gallery -www.evfa.com -
Show: New Works by Tommy Mose Abbott
R – 454 Seaton Street:
—————————————————
David Coldwell – #3 – Paintings – 213. 999. 7140
Open Space:
—————————————————
TL Nagano – conceptual installation – www.mrdowntownla.com – 213. 621. 7665 – mrdowntownla@hotmail.com
For more information, contact Lilli Muller at lillim99@gmail.com or visit the facebook site.
ix tapa Cantina Opening in Pasadena
December 2, 2009
Last night, I attended the opening of Jack Huang’s newest restaurant-Ix tapa Cantina. The new Mexican eatery found it’s home at 119 E. Colorado Blvd, Pasadena (Arroyo Parkway and Colorado Blvd). Huang owns two other restaurants in Old Town Pasadena; Bar Celona and Villa Sorriso (perhaps most well known as the Italian restaurant that hosted Michael Jackson’s burial reception).
Jack Huang celebrating with a guest on opening night
“With ix-tapa Cantina, as with everything he does, Huang has taken a hands-on approach, including choosing the name of the restaurant and hand picking lighting fixtures with architect and designer Sat Gard.”*
Apparently Huang wanted ix tapa Cantina to feel like a real beach joint in Mexico.
“I always want to have that fun factor, and this restaurant feels like a beach resort, which fits into the theme we wanted to carry out,” Huang said in an interview with Pasadena Magazine. I think he did a good job, considering the space is 7500 sq feet, much larger than most Mexican beach restaurants I’ve come across. But, the heavy use of neon, and 90s decor elements definitely helped achieve the look.
How about the food? The buffet style line was already super long by the time I got there. It moved pretty quickly, and the staff was was constantly refilling the food in the chafing dishes. The buffet offered a few items off the menu, like; rice and chorizo beans, chicken mole, beef birria, cheese enchiladas and tacos. I don’t eat red meat, and I rarely eat pork, but I just had to try one of the tacos. I thought the pork taco was amazing–almost as good as the chicken tacos I get from my favorite local taco truck.
I’ve gone to quite a few store and restaurant openings in my day as an entertainment reporter. I thought this opening was super fun. Dan Cox, did a wonderful job with the PR. His use of twitter, was a great way to publicize the restaurant via word of mouth. And the press/bloggers received a special treat from Dan Cox: 3 drink coupons to be used at Bar Celona, or Villa SORRISO, after the opening at ix tapa cantina.
I walked about a block to Bar Celona, where my favorite mixologist, and owner of Neve Luxury Ice Company, Michel Dozois was bartending.
I used my drink tickets to try some fabulous drink concotion. I don’t quite remember what I had, but it had tequila, syrup, bitters and Michel’s ice. Maybe it’s me, but Michel’s ice makes drinks taste better.
Between the welcoming hosts, good food, yummy drinks, I’d say it was pretty fun night. The only thing that could make my impression of ix tapa cantina any better, is if I win that trip to Ix Tapa, Mexico they’re giving away.
Special Thanks to Michel and Dan.
