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Westwood Ugly(er)

Yeah, I couldn't take it - I finally had to return to the Westwood Ugly photos. For starters, the Westwood Whole Foods needs a Clean Sweep team to hit them hard. I get it is a recycling area, but does it have to be a dump? I didn't shoot pix of the dirty elevator to the toilets - not yet that is.

And then there is the environmental disaster scene of NoVill (North Westwood Village). Besides that new name which is itself a crime, the students are the worst offenders. Well, the students coupled with the worst property management possible for an area with extortion level rental rates.

Check out more of the Westwood Ugly Pix!

Sucker Pix

It's getting hot in here. So hot that Crano and I hit the streets in full sunlight - which for me is really saying something. After lunch at our favorite California Roll Factory we stormed the monstrous new Bed Bath and Beyond where the best looking merchandise was on two legs. I'm jus sayin. Above is proof that Crano really does suck - in Fiction no less. And his finger makes rainbows! Awwww.

My Juicy Posse: Sex and the City

 

Finally I have posted some pix from the Juicy event. Crack open some fresh mascara and get ready to blush! And below is the brilliant flyer for the Juicy event.

Westwood Ugly

Maybe it's because of those images of a newly sprouted neighborhood from the 1920's, I always think of Westwood Village as somewhat charming or refined. But in reality it is a rather ugly collection of overpriced crap, extortion deli's, and - wether it be a bank or a cafe - typically bad service. Westwood Village is caught in a downward spiral of lousy property maintenance and ill-conceived development. So I am starting a new photo album of all the ugly crap I see everyday in Westwood. So now you can laugh and cry along with me.

Does Not Listen

Or maybe he couldn't read the sign? Even with those fine Fiction frames? Brian & I performed community service on last Friday - first we returned the gear from his shoot to Indie Rentals where I salivated from a polite distance over the many Red cameras on sticks. After a starch-pack lunch at Doughboys down the street (can anyone say double mileage points?) we went all the way to UCI to pack up & pick up a chroma screen and swap it with the vendor in Burbank. Which meant we were stuck in Burbank on Friday night at peak traffic. So, yes we killed time at the Empire Center Target, misc food courts crap, and then eventually Brian's nose led us on to the Krispy Kreme. Despite the sign by the driveway, we entered and eventually regretted it.

K-Town with QL

Just like it sounds, I hit the streets of K-Town with Quentin for some Tofu Hot Pot and a chance to catch-up on all the news. I gave the Park City update, and Quentin gave me the low down on his feature that is about to go into pre-production. It was a nice mellow night. While the food was tasty, the decor was as dicey as the neighborhood - with the same dirty charm.

Oyama on my mind

I woke up this morning with Oyama on my mind. I had a lovely day trip there back in October with a terribly handsome and charming guide. (yes, i was hoarding the pix) We talked and walked, hiking up the side of the mountain while unfurling ideas about love and life and what we hope the future might bring. It was a beautiful day, filled with gorgeous views -the trees, streams of clear cold water, temples, shrines, and best of all - my host. That night we returned to Isehara and had an unforgettable meal at a Tofu house. I want to climb back in bed now and nap dreaming about it all over again.

Drag Surveillance

On the last night of my trip to Kansas I hit the streets of Kansas City and did some podcast recording in Westport with Thad and Heath. Nothing could have prepared me for the evenings encore - we ended up at Missie B's. Thad escaped this near drag experience with the excuse of wife and child awaiting his return.

Heath and I witnessed unspeakable acts - mostly deflated ones. The strange highlights include the drag show surveillance playing out on cheap flat screen tv's. The color and signal kept flickering in and out, which revealed the drag show (going on in the same room) as the crime scene that it truly was.

Upstairs there was no relief for our ears and eyes, as unlikely contestants had been drafted into some sort of competition. We couldn't figure out the point exactly and the MC was barely able to muster a groan from the audience. Any remaining blood drained out later when the formerly attractive-enough victims were paraded in adult diapers. It was borderline moment - it could have gone several directions.

During a dance break, a cluster of drunken trampy boys attempted to out-slut each other - on the same pole at the same time. No matter how hard they did the bump and grind, I couldn't get the image of the earlier leather-faced-cowboy-cum-lord-of-the-dance who had made that pole truly his own.

Please check out more pix of the crime scene!

Snow-Capped Jackson Hause

A winter hush has fallen across Osage City, with its small town landscape now wrapped in a gentle blanket of snow. OR this place is deadly quiet. Even more dead than before. Last night I had a smack down with the crummy local Pizza Hut and their attempt to feed me a miserable vegetarian pizza with errant pieces of sausage. I mean, WTF. So I settled instead on the gourmet Sonic Drive-In.

Now Frank & Pepsi Free

Here I am back in Kansas for the first time in ages and finally crossing paths with my old skool peep Francis now Frank. We got started too late in the evening to hit a local pool hall - it was 10:30pm and everything was closed. So we chilled in my parents kitchen, with booze generously provided by my father/local Beer Meister. We drank and laughed late into the night - sorry Mom - about everyone from the past. It turned classic flashback when we hauled out the year books to put names and faces together. (Wow has desktop publishing improved). And no, the vintage Pepsi Free bottle is not filled with actual Pepsi Free. My Dad gets props for going green when it comes to reusing bottles for beer. However the Natural Light was unforgivable.

Slamdance Me Softly

Yes that's right! Softly has been selected to screen at the Slamdance Film Festival! In case you need me to openly brag, the festival selected under a hundred films from over 3,500 submissions. The launch/announcement party featured a glowing Jägermeister ice sculpture—a boozy beacon in the pitch dark of Jimmy's Lounge in Hollywood. Quentin joined up for cocktails to celebrate. The Slamdance extended family is warm and lively and I am really looking forward to Park City in January. I can't believe I am going to Utah on purpose.

(We Were) Going Back To Chandni

I do think so. Crano and I finally returned to Chandni on Saturday for the lunch Buffet. It had been at least year since we swore off this former favorite spot. Maybe we had become bored, or maybe it was a change in staff - but things had really bottomed out there. Well I am happy to report the sweet man we started calling Teen Gandhi was there, decidedly less a teen, but kind as ever. The food was great, and we were so very satisfied. We are going back to Chandni, to Chandni, to Chandni!

Gutter Mouth

After a wonderful night at the drink n' drag fueled Juicy, my mouth is admittedly dry.

Roppongi (Holidays Squared)

Kosaku san and I hit the streets today working our way through several galleries, obscure fashion and handmade house-ware shops. For the record I must state Kosaku has impeccable taste. This pic is in Roppongi - as the last light of day disappeared we headed for tea. There were photographers, journalists and news crews crawling all over the area as a major press event was playing out across the street from us. Oh, and I sure hope they decorate this street for the holidays.

Tabela Posse

Finally! I shot pix at Tabela that are not only the food but the peeps as well. The cafe manager Kazz is the one hefting the Daikon. And yes lunch was great, again.

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