I was right..

I was having too much fun, and thus the entries here have been non-existent. The LA trip was a riot! I do have many pics with a few anecdotes to share. And honestly? More than a few things that I'm keeping to myself but hey..a girl's gotta have some mystery about her, no? And personally, I've gotta have myself shrouded in like 1000 X more than the average chick needs, just to be truly comfortable.



I was to meet up with a friend at Canters Deli on Fairfax last Saturday, and since they were a running tad late I headed over to the thrift shop a few doors down to kill some time. While there, I strolled the aisles and gleefully snatched up a luscious Betsey Johnson boa piece - and for just mere clams too!! Anyway, at check out by the register lo and behold! Lounging casually forgotten amid the shoes, belt buckles, clutches and other designer tschotskes in the glass display counter-case was this old familiar gem above. (And anyone who thinks I mean the Anna Nicole cover issue should probably just stop reading this entry right now.)


Here's a picture worth a thousand words. Funniest thing about the entire occurrence was my nonchalance towards it visually at first glance. I was simply like "Hey, there's a Gucci belt, a pair of 80's Bandolino shoes, and Dad's old playboy..cool." And then, I got so giddy I asked the nice young Jewish sales clerk boy to remove it from the confines of it's glass coffin. I remarked it was the "First one I ever uh, perused when..I was..5...or..6." Oops. Realizing I said that out loud, I trailed off and caught myself. Seeing from the dilation of his pupils and the expression on his face, that this might seem a bit awkward/odd to the young guy. I shifted gears to let the moment pass quickly and did so by asking him the selling price. So as to not make him feel uncomfortable I went the professional eccentric/collector route. Goodness knows LA is full of those. In a very dry manner I mock-inspected the spine and announced:"Oh in that condition the asking price is a tad high for me." And slipped in "I'll just take a quick snapshot instead." (And it actually was too much $ for the grade, truth be told.) He seemed to be happy to be let off-the-hook. I had this picture snapped and decided it would be a nice enough memento of the re-visited memory. Thus, I'd keep the cash to buy a Brooklyn plate at Canters instead.

In all honesty, while that MARCH 1968 issue was my first, it was not my #1 pick of the pile back then. The adult me now knows it was a good one though. Great cover, lovely centerfold, a Peter Max jewelry ad, and it not only has a Truman Capote interview, but it had a feature spread on the Barbarella film. That my first images of that film were viewed in stills is a fond thing to recollect today. Although I later found that Dad had much older ones, PLUS the coveted Vargas postcard collection, it stands to say that overall, Dad had/has damned good taste.

This issue serves as the first copy for me visually speaking, to connect that moment of discovery in my childhood. I'd also 'discovered' several Photoplay and similar mens' magazines, a few with Dad's favourite pin-up Bettie Page. While these facts and names are all realized now, as was the categorization of each being different publications, all that was noted quite later in my life. At 5 or 6, heck, I just had fun with the 'girlie mags'. Sitting in a sunny room and scanning pages full of cheesecake, sweetly photographed bikini gals and models in various poses and states of dress. (..erm..undress?) It all seemed normal to me. Like watching my Mom get ready in the powder room.



I love having this memory to call my own. While I was probably most taken with the illustrations in Dad's collection (Vargas) I recall some of the idyllic and feminine pin-ups made an impression too. While a little goofy, (think Elvgren) even the arranged photo shoots of the era (like let's say..oh..fishing in lingerie or being on afternoon picnic, and your top gets mustard on it.. etc. ) the message was still friendly. Sexy but 'clean' which always = classy to me. I'm pretty fortunate considering some of what I could have been subjected to if I'd been born like a decade or so later in the coke-haZed hustler or oui era. I still feel that early visual influence, possibly a few album covers, and some early leading ladies in the Hammer House of Horror flicks probably helped to define my style and fashion sense as woman later on in life. Perhaps as much as it served to define my decision to be an Artist. Appreciation of form..colour..beauty.

Anyway, to wrap things up I have not seen that issue in some time. Dad got wise to it (or was it Mom?) and they moved them on me. A bunch of times actually. But that it was all understood by my parents to be a very innocently-sweet curiosity and nothing more (which was true) says a lot about my folks. For me, it was the small beginning into my appreciation for pin up art and illustration in printed format. The rest, as they say is history. I'm still forging away - though some days it can be trying. But I wouldn't trade some of the odd experiences like that for anything. These truly serve to define an Artist's path.

More pics from LA and Hollywood to follow soon..that said, I still have to resize them as the downloading itself just didn't happen until today. I'd like to say it was due to 100% fun but it was mainly due to the fact that just a day after getting back from LA I had to trek up North to San Francisco to take care of some paperwork. Which, in my world means it was a perfect excuse to head to the Winchester House in San Jose. That however, is an entire entry in itself....with you guessed it..more pics.

Walking in LA

It seemed to me only fitting after my last visit to LA taking place during the PJ Harvey concert (on the summer solstice) that my return to there would also fall around a day such as this, approaching the first harvest. How fortunate am I that in both cases I get to spend them in the company of a Goddess?

Days like this I love my life. Hopefully pictures to follow, but I can't promise anything because I might be having too much fun.

K

A quickie post...

The circus that is CCI/SDCC - or the beast otherwise known as San Diego Comic Con is about to leave town. And since today is the last day and the entire week actually has been filled with many cosmic moments and good times with people near and dear to my heart, most of the time I was too busy to take my own pictures. Somehow all the frames are just treasured mental snapshots and perhaps sometimes that is best. I will have to share more thoughts later in the week. Gotta decompress from the sensory overload, you know? So just a quick post this morning:

Looking back now, I can say that attending cons as a girl during the late 70's and later in my early 20's - it was pretty much the frontier days of conventions for women in attendance. From my own perspective the guy to girl ratio was highly imbalanced. (on the East coast in the late 80's to early 90's, it seemed this way.) It was a far different world than it is today, or when at any given con you may have only seen a dozen or less girls (sans booth babes) across the convention floors. And the best quote I have ever heard to sum this experience up actually came to me last year, and fell from the lips of this lovely and wise lady pictured with me above. She said quite simply and eloquently : "We were pioneers."

PJ Harvey & John Parish @ the Wiltern in LA 6/20/09

Ahh... just got home from LA about an hour ago and at 6:45 am I am still too excited to sleep just yet! It was a simply amazing performance. PJ was ethereal and did a lot of barefoot dancing while using expression-ate gestures instead of her usual singing and guitar playing stance. She's always marvelous to see live, but just seems to be at a certain comfort level with John Parish present. More so than with any of the prior band member line-ups that I have seen in past performances. Although all have been quite extraordinary in their own right - this is just a little bit more intimate. It's very natural the way they play together..seeing their connection is like witnessing a sort of magic unfold between nearly lifelong friends. I knew full well to expect the set was to include select songs only from Dance Hall at Louse Point and also off of A Woman A Man Walked By. I was NOT to be disappointed as these are two of my best loved releases! The LA record calls it "quite Lynch-ian" and interviews Parish here. Both seemed in good spirits and PJ was truly having a playful go at the audience. All the feelings imaginable were evoked - all the things conjured up in the soul that mere words cannot express!

(!!!) By the way - if you have never been, let me say The Wiltern in LA is such a lovely theatre to go and see a show. I have seen PJ there twice now. Definitely my all-time favourite CA venue so far.

Lavishly Art Deco styled and kept up very well considering the age. (it opened as the WARNER back in 1931) Perfect setting, since last night was stupendous and very theatrical! The venue is right up my alley and reminds me a bit of home and the old 1927 Tower Theatre in Upper Darby, PA.No surprise both are Live-Nation sponsored concert venues. I can only imagine when the Tower was in it's former glory that the two theatres were indeed top jewels in the crown for US venues. Thank goodness someone had the foresight to restore the Wiltern and lovingly continue her upkeep. I often wonder about the condition of the Ol' Tower back home.

Lots of energy throughout the show. I enjoyed all the songs, but these 3 songs were most favoured by me: California, Rope Bridge Crossing and Pig Will Not, A Man a Woman walked By/The Crow Knows.... I overheard a man nearby the camera platform call these the best versions live "ever" of the latter 2 songs. High praise indeed, as this came from a man who said he was in attendance for "all the west & east coast U.S. shows this tour."Plus 4 UK & 2 Paris ones. What can I say? He was loud but informative and wearing many lanyard badges. A more intensely polished and sometimes even mellow set than were some of the other raw powerpacked Peej shows I have seen in past years. But oh-so very moving in every way. She even danced around in circles during A Woman a Man Walked By and spun right off the stage during the fade into The Crow Knows.. promptly returning onstage in the same happy and child-like twirling manner. I don't know how she wasn't a dizzy mess from it all.

But the even better news is the entire show was recorded by 4 professional videographers, 1 on stage 2 in the pit and the other on a platform by the soundboard. No Maira Mochnacz (her usual filmographer) was in sight for the gig, which means we may see it much sooner than later since her projects -good as they are- seem to take time to surface. Here was my viewpont bascially from the platform of the tiny little Goddess in all her glory: (cell pic)



The only thing better than viewing 1 PJ is viewing 2 simultaneously. I caught a glimpse of some excellent close up face shots in the view frame of the professional's camera, as I watched her onstage as well . I was positioned just inches beside the camera man near the soundboard, and just about mid way on the GA floor. I was much closer than the pic seems to show and certainly closer than where these two video clips were shot from the balcony, but here is some live concert footage:

and another here..

Aftershow, we headed over to Fairfax Avenue and parked to stroll around and do a little late nite window shopping. (Fairfax is kinda a bit touristy, like South Street in Philly with a neighborhood feel.) And lo and behold! Parked right out front of the Canters Kibbutz Room and our eatery destination Canters Deli, was my dream chariot! A classic 1967 GTO, in metal flake turquoise - now how apropos of 42 is that?! We snapped a few quick shots (forgive the crappy and pixelated cell phone pix)

We had the best east coast style Jewish comfort food over at Canters Delicatessen.



Which has now officially been forgiven by yours truly, for making my take out sandwich last month such a miss. They redeemed themselves tonight for sure with this hit. I got the "Brooklyn" which is corned beef (cold) on fresh rye with homestyle cole slaw and russian mustard. A big side of Kosher pickles too. Topped it off with a Dr. Browns Black Cherry soda. Sheeeeer bliss. In the background is a potato knish and the hummus plate.

And since we were so kindly included on the guest list, we stopped by to see Matt's friend John spin ( he's a DJ) at the LA goth club BAR SINISTER and we had a little (very wee watered-down) nip of Whiskey and a few laughs. Ok, there were LOTS of laughs, but for all sorts of observatory and people watching reasons. Note about the bar: Great DJ, but the barmaid made me a lousy-weak ass drink, and some even frown on your free drink tickets. (Way to treat someone on the guest list.) Apparently last call @ 2 am there is really 1:37 am, even if you stand in line at the bat at 1:32 am and make eye-contact with the server pre-order status. The security staff were very Gestapo-esque about going out to smoke in the fountain/lobby area and were even harsh about what exit to leave from. Pricks. Beware of the smells from the roach-coach street vendors as you leave the doors. Don't want that smell lingering in your black silks and satins. Again, pros: Great DJ and also pretty nice decor though. Cons: Dance floor NOT very spacious for being in such a big place.Dangerous Toxic bathrooms. Overall? It's kind of a sad, pathetic old hooker of a club and former shadow of itself really IMHO. We did have fun all the same. Despite the shitty service, I am tempted to head back a final time, if only to support our DJ friend and to view the upcoming LIP SERVICE fashion party. So it's either for him or Lippy's sake that we may pop-in this weekend, but it's iffy. Depends on our schedule and if we are back on the guest list again. (No way am I paying cover to get in.) Hey, on the plus side? I do still have those two drink tickets they didn't accept at last call to convince myself back into going just once more.

Nothing soothes like music...especially something deep you can relate to and the intense Peej is one of my ultimate faves. Well more about my week long Birthday and weekend Summer Solstice related celebrations with friends with some pics later.But for now, I must rest up. More big plans to come soon with friends and then before I know it, there's SDCC in July!

Celebrating the summer of 42..



I leave you with a pic of a lovely rose Matt's Mom gave to me on Wednesday.(It still looks good and this was taken days later!) Also a quick celebratory shot of me twirling out the door on Saturday evening.


K~

P.S.- A very HAPPY FATHERS DAY to all the Dads out there.

Locals, this Saturday..

..is the annual ART AROUND ADAMS fest. Which is more like a Music fest this year than ever. Do check out The Burning of Rome before they wise up and leave this minimally cultural town soon for the big time.

The mail flyer listing simply says "various Artists" for Lestats but since that various also features me and my section by the Barista counter..

This is my attempt at shameless self-promotion. I'll be popping in and out, but my Art will be there all day.



xoxo,

K~

adicción

Ok, so I can't stop listening to this live version of The Mexican...and it's all my friend The Great Randali's fault. (Bless his heart.) This is much more up-tempo than the LP version, and some might have to let the singer's rawness 'grow' on them. But personally, I think she's passionate and fabulous.

Enjoy the weekend people,

K~

I'm really more frequently using myspace (yes,still.) for most of my blogging.

Despite the sinking ship it is, I find the alternatives like facebook are bland, and twitter is completely too self-absorbed and inane for me to bother. Basically, when it comes down to it, I'm too damn lazy to transfer it all over here from myspace. But here is one of my current photos ...

and a playlist if anyone is curious what I'm listening to.(It changes up often.)

Enjoy,
K~