Going Back To Cali

(I suggest we learn to love ourselves before it's made illegal...warning, don't ever let life pass you by.- B. Boyd)

Visiting Los Angeles again. This time because my friend Joanna is having baby number two, and I figured I would go a see her before the baby's arrival.

I always try to make her a CD before I go to see her. Here's what's on it this time.

"Help I'm Alive" - Metric
"Zero" - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
"Get Myself Into It" - The Rapture
"Two Weeks" - Grizzly Bear
"Something Is Not Right With Me" - Cold War Kids
"I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked" - Ida Maria
"Black Heart Inertia" - Incubus
"Electric Feel" - MGMT
"Caravan Girl" - Goldfrapp
"Poker Face" - Lady Gaga
"Sunday Girl" - Blondie
"French Navy" - Camera Obscura
"The Opposite of Hallelujah" - Jens Lekman
"Relator" - Pete Yorn & Scarlett Johansson
"Summertime" - The Sundays

I love Los Angeles. My goal is to go there once a year. We'll see how that goes. But I don't do fancy pants LA. I'm not hanging out at Chateau Marmont or The Standard. I do laid back, easy-going LA.

Favorite LA Things

1. Amoeba Records - The biggest and best record store ever. And when I say record, I mean vinyl. You can get some great stuff here at very affordable prices. I still need a Jimi Hendrix picture disc to go with my Led Zeppelin and David Bowie discs that are on my wall. Hmmm...

2. Beach/Weather - Going to Zuma beach this time, which is supposed to be the best beach in LA. 70, 80, 90 degrees... whatever, I'll take it compared to Texas heat.

3. Vintage Stores Galore - Los Angeles is a vintage store paradise. I could spend all day going through the racks.

4. Farmer's Market at The Grove - I get Waffles with Strawberries every time.

5. Fish tacos - I like cheap, from a stand, on the street fish tacos. Sometimes they even have shrimp, too.

6. Silverlake - The houses on the hill, I want one. There are quaint coffee shops and cute, little boutiques. It's like Austin or Seattle in LA.

7. View from Griffith Observatory - At night, of course, is terrific. It will be the only time you can stand looking at the traffic in Los Angeles. The lights are fantastic.

8. The Originals - In-N-Out Burger, Pinkberry and Sprinkles. The start of some of the best food chains in America.


Day 1
June 18, 2009

Los Angeles and your Spanish bungalows, how I adore thee despite your love of the Lakers. Ninety degrees here isn't like in Texas. A cool breeze comes along and makes everything alright again, and at night it's chilly enough for a jacket. Can I take you home with me? I'm staying in La Brea which is close to Hollywood. My hotel of choice is this time is Farmer's Daughter, which isn't too far from Joanna. It's across the street from the Price is Right building and the Farmer's Market/Grove. This is a perfect location if you have a car. It's near some of the touristy things and some type of everyday, normal LA life. I've noticed...1. People love to walk their dogs all the time here. 2. Women wear boots with everything (skirts, pants and even shorts). Maybe shoes are a cultural thing and people should do more studies regarding people's choice of footwear and region. Footnotes: a)White people like to wear flip flops in 30 degree weather. b) LA women wear boots summer, spring, winter and fall. Met up with Joanna after doing some thrift store shopping. You can read about what I found here. We went to Amoeba Records after catching up (dishing about Facebook) I picked up 2 remix singles and latest Strokes album on vinyl. I think some things are meant to listen to on vinyl. Classics like Bowie or old 60s-70s R&B. Somehow I think the Strokes fit that bill, too. Gabriella is so big, and she still smiles all the time. Definitely an explorer. She likes to run around and pick up things. We went to go see the Hangover. Very funny. A nice combination of physical comedy and "what in the world" moments. Day 1, Success.

(view from hotel room window)

Day 2

June 19, 2009

Went to Zuma Beach. It's very relaxing to look at the waves even in cloudy weather. In the random way the world works, I look up at a light while we are driving and see a street named "Morning View." Then I realize that this is the street that Incubus named their album after, which makes me smile on the inside. Went to Duke's to eat lunch. You can look out at the ocean while you eat and big seagulls will walk pass on the window ledge. Later in the evening we saw Grizzly Bear at The Wiltern. It's a nice theater - a little old Hollywood. The sound was really good. Normally, I don't go see mellow bands in concert, but the band was great. The way they blend melodies is amazing. Their sound is attention grabbing yet beautiful enough to lull you to sleep. I thought weird mustaches were so last year, but apparently some guys are still rockin them. It was a bit like being surrounded by a bunch of Ryan Goslings from Lars and the Real Girl. Day 2, Accomplished and tired.

Day 3

June 20, 2009

Walked around town a lot today. I didn't realize how close I was to Melrose where a bunch of vintage stores are located. I also didn't realize that most of the stores don't open until noon on Saturday. What are these people doing on Friday nights that half the day goes by before they open a store? I think I could handle driving a car out here. I'm starting to put locations and streets somewhat together, and I now know that you don't have to take the 405 to the airport. I did stop by, The Way We Wore, a very famous vintage shop where celebs like to shop. Prices are definitely to high for my taste, but I could see how some Hollywood celebutante could clean up in there or someones stylist - the customer de jour of the day. The Way We Wore - Expensive vintage. Melrose Thrift Stores - Retail Vintage. Thrift Stores - Cheaper Vintage. Day 3 - Satisfied until next time.

Seattle/Los Angeles 08

(Mavs/Nash trip #5)

Seattle (Jan 10th - Jan 13th)

Day 1

This is my 5th annual Mavs/Nash trip starting out in Seattle with Gay and Alicia. Seattle is a hipsters town. Young boys wearing their skinny jeans morning, noon and night. Even the old people dress casual cool here. They were playing a remix of Feist's cover of "Sea Lion Woman" on KEXP while we were on our way to eat at Smarty Pants. Our waitress had a combination of green and black hair and had at least three facial piercings which was a little intimidating. If everyone looked like that in Seattle, I could never compete. I had an eyebrow piercing once in college that I had to take out for a job a month later, and that was the end of that. I love the architecture in Seattle . Everything is very west coast modern. The houses are all different shapes and sizes. I had some delicious crab cakes and a Mai Tai at West 5. (Okay, half a Mai Tai because of course I couldn't finish it.)

Day 2

The day started with breakfast at Easy Street Records. I had a Lil Kim (a slice of French toast, bacon and eggs). Everyone uses garage doors for windows. A brilliant idea that I wish to adapt if I ever built a dream home. The sun was out today, and everyone remarked about the lovely, but chilly weather. The people of Seattle are not exactly understated, but calm, witty and very friendly. Maybe all the different types of people make you have to have an amiable personality. I think that's a nice trait to have.

We saw the Space Needle. Very cold and windy, but nice views of the city. Went to Pike Place Market, had a tea at the original Starbucks and some mac and cheese at Beecher's. I love how they have the baseball and football stadium downtown. I'm envious because if Dallas would be like this, downtown would be vibrant.

Took the monorail to the Mavs game. Seattle was no match for the Mavericks. The Dirk finger made its triumphic return because of Gay and will now go back into retirement. Let's talk about Key Arena because of all the hub-bub about the Sonics moving to Oklahoma. The concession stand area pretty good. This ain't Reunion Arena bad by any means. However, the seats were so close together. If you're a big guy or a girl that's like 5'11 and 3/4, you're not fitting in the seats comfortably. Number 2, there's no seafood. I can get catfish and fries at the American Airlines Center. Yes, they have spring rolls, but I want fried greasy seafood. Number 3, no cotton candy! I could get ice cream in 40 degree weather, but no sugary, delightfulness of cotton candy. That's just wrong.

Some of the skits were entertaining, I was hesitant at first about the Sasquatch mascot. He turned out to be great. Seattle, Save Your Sasquatch! Kevin Durant will be very good. Get him a good point guard and design some plays for him. Don't make him work too hard. He's got great handles, Ooh, and Detlef Schrempf was at the game. One of my all-time favorite Mavs. Great shooter and defender, and he had a haircut that reminded me of Larry Mullen Jr. of U2. Still looking sehr schon. I found out Steve Nash has the flu. Very worried about Tuesday's game in Los Angeles.

Day 3

The two-hour West coast time change kills me every time. I just can't get used to it. No rest for the weary. We took a ferry ride to Bainbridge Island and back. I don't think I've been on a boat that large before. It certainly would be an interesting way to get to work every morning. It only rained 1 1/2 days out of 4 while I was here. Not too shabby. Time to 40-degree weather in for 70 degrees. Seattle has got good people. That's probably all anyone could need. Well, that and cotton candy.

Los Angeles (Jan 14th - 17th)

Day 5

I arrived in downtown Los Angeles the same day Britney Spears ran away from the court house and bought a pregnancy test. Was that a top news story in Dallas? January might have been the perfect time to visit Venice Beach. It was cool and not crowded Not a lot of muscle men out pumping iron and no sign of Wesley Snipes playing basketball, but I love looking at the beach. Thumbs up for the Green Tea Pinkberry yogurt and the In and Out cheeseburger.

The Staples Center... a bit underwhelming. Kinda like when you find out the Academy Awards is held in an outdoor shopping center. You expect something fancy, and you're just let down. The seats where I was seating were awful. they were on risers behind the basket. When someone walked by, you had to stand up and your seat would fold up like an unstable beach chair behind you. I had to lean my head out the aisle the entire game just to see in front of me. the Clippers game presentation was dull. The fan bits benefited the advertisers more than the spectators, and the dancers were so bad I had to look away. The Suns lost. It was nice not seeing Steve play the Mavericks. He had a lot of excellent assists. I wouldn't take Diana Ross for being a basketball fan, but she was there. As I left, a guy was yelling, "We'll see you on Thursday, Suns!" (The Suns would be play the Lakers a day from now at the Staples Center.) Illegal!

Dear Clippers/Lakers fan,

You can't be a Clippers and a Lakers fan. You only get to pick one, buddy. They're two completely different teams: a depleted, working-class team and an overly dramatic, upper-class team. You are not both those things. Pick the one closest to you and and stick with it. I'm not a Suns fan. I'm a Mavs fan who enjoys watching Steve Nash play. So unless you've been following Sam Cassell around the league and you're a die-hard Lakers fan, one of your alliances must be forfeited.

Sincerely,

Michelle

Day 6

I think I could live in LA withstanding the price and the traffic and the earthquakes and the forest fires. I would stay in Silverlake. It's got nice cafes and eclectic shops. (A little bit of Seattle with better weather.) I scored some nice vintage finds in Hollywood an picked up a "Thriller" LP and a David Bowie picture disc to display along with my Spanish Led Zeppelin album that I bought last time at Amoeba Records.

All in all, a fantastic trip. I have learned some things to keep in mind on the next vacations. 1. Technology and breakfast bar outweigh decor. 2. Be flexible, with others and even yourself. Whatever you want to do, will probably be there next time. Especially, if you need a nap. 3. LAX security lines suck no matter what day it is. Get there early and hope somehow your group in picked to get to moved up in line.

On iPod:

"Conquest" - Acoustic - (White Stripes)

"By the Monument" (Maximo Park)

"Bridge to Canada" (Noisettes)

"Stolen Away on 55th & 3rd" (Dave Matthews Band)

"He Can Only Hold Her" (Amy Winehouse)

"Emanuela" (Fettes Brot)

"We Were Lovers" (Bloc Party)

"Are You Experieced?" (Jimi Hendrix)

"Clumsy" (Fergie)

"Jimmy" (M.I.A.)

"Potions for Foxes" (Rilo Kiley)

"Thinking of You" (Sister Sledge)

"Pumpkin Soup" (Kate Nash)

"I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You" (Aretha Franklin)

"Parade" (Garbage)

"Anyone Else But You" (Juno Soundtrack)

"Elderly Woman Behind a Counter in a Small Town" (Pearl Jam)
"Hoy Me Voy" (Juanes)

"Play With Fire" (Rolling Stones)

"15 Steps" (Radiohead)

"A Kiss to Send Us Off" (Incubus)

"Luxurious" (Gwen Stefani)