What a Bitchen' Kitchen!!!

The long awaited project has finally begun- I have started to build my bike.

After sanding and painting my frame I am ready to assemble.  The gals over at the LA Bike Kitchen helped me get started and I can't wait to see the end result!!

Mondays it's Bitchen' at the Kitchen, an all woman bike workshop, so lady's check it out.  It was definitely less intimidating for me, since I am not a hard core bike rider, and don't know the first thing about tinkering with the machine. By the end of the night I had more done than expected and can not wait until next monday to work on the bike some more.

Learn more about the Bike Kitchen and what they stand for:

http://www.bicyclekitchen.com/

Banana Fro

Go see Josie and her other friends from the Bronx Zoo at the GettoGloss art gallery.

Mad-Wicked-Sick-Yo!

http://www.ghettogloss.com/

Get FeltUp!!

I finally have something to sell! This weekend I was in craft heaven! Not only did I learn how to crochet amiguri chicks, and get a Ambient Haircut at the fantastic Machine Project takeover at LACMA, I learned how to felt at Felt Clubs craft fair! (For those who did not make it on saturday, you missed out. It was a spectacular event....props to machine project, I love you guys! Check them out http://machineproject.com/lacma)

I am now obbsessed with making cute mini felt objects.

This means a collection of Oh My Dear!! FeltUp figurines actually exists (just in time for christmas, yay). I am also making shiny toy gun earings as well as my usual plant art. 

Pictures coming soon......

Read more about the event at LACMA:http://www.latimes.com/ent

ertainment/la-et-lacma17-2008nov17,0,2476602.story

Musical Privatization

I don't know what to think....

http://flux.net/it-happened-one-nighta-silent-rave

Elections, Protests, and Fasting.....

November is one hell of a month!

We have a new president...all hail Barack Obama!

We care more about poultry than we do people.....8 is hate!

I need to lose 12 more pounds......is a shaved head in my future?

I Left My Heart in San Francisco....

Can I just say, I really miss home!

STOP THE DRAMA, VOTE OBAMA!!!!

Apart from adorning my vehicle with political statements, and asking everyone I know if they have registered to vote, I took it upon myself last weekend to go one step further and canvass for Barack Obama in Nevada. 

By my lonesome I drove hours in traffic to Las Vegas not knowing with whom I was going to stay or what group I would be apart of for the campaigning itself. The idea of walking door to door or 'canvassing' as it it refer to in the political community, is not something that I would generally find appealing, however the thought of having 4-8 more years of the same bullshit has forced me to do whatever I can to prevent another republican from being elected into office (especially one with a running mate as embarrassing as Sarah Palin). Seeing as Nevada is a swing state (a red state really), this was something I could do to help.

My effort was well rewarded.  I found myself staying with a fantastic couchsurfing host who welcomed me into his home and treated me with kindness.  I also joined a wonderful group of folks from LA to canvass with, which made an experience that was nothing like I expected, much better than it could have been.  

The canvassing itself was extremely intense. Your group is given a packet and you drive out to a neighborhood, equipped with lists and pamphlets, feeling like a Barack's witnesses.

The first day we were sent to 'Naked City', a place as Padraic (another lovely group member) later told us police only went to in groups, and I soon found out was the drug mecca of Vegas. We knocked on over 100 doors, and spoke to many people, most in good spirits regardless of their situation. Struggling single mothers, drug addicts, Vietnam Vets, all living in dire conditions just trying to survive. It was saddening, but it was reality. The next morning seemed better, but the afternoon's canvass proved everyone was having a hard time. Gangs, Pitbulls, Eviction Notices, Crack-heads, Condemned Buildings, the outskirts of Vegas were slums filled with people that go unnoticed by tourists vacationing in the artificial world created on the strip. 

The trip was a wake up call, and unfortunately, even if we wake up, the people in these neighborhoods are not going to gain any resources or reap any benefits for years to come. I drove back home happy that I made the trip, but depressed in thinking about the mess we have gotten ourselves into as a nation, knowing that this lifestyles is more common than not across the US. Things need to change, but will they? All we can do now is vote and wait...... 

Thank you Wayne for being a wonderful host, and Danielle and Martha for making the whole experience as enjoyable as it could be!

The Great Freeloader

For all those that know me well,  you will agree that I am not only a great resource for finding local events, but for searching for those that have some sort of added incentive. Well today was my lucky day!  What started off as my weekly movie screening fix turned into an evening of freebie flourish. The night unfolded as follows:

#1 Deli Connoisseur: An email the night before notified me that the famous Canter's on Fairfax was celebrating it's 60th Anniversary. What could this celebration call for? None other than a 65 cent special (w/tax)!

That's right for a mere 65 cents you could fill yourself with a generous helping of corned beef on fresh rye, potato salad, pickle and a delicious chocolate rugelach. Self title the recession special, the hearty plate was worth every penny....who says we can't benefit from the economy's downturn? Added bonus: the service was so fast at the counter, I couldn't fish my book out of my cluttered bag before the food arrived!

The article tells all: http://laist.com/2008/10/14/canters_60cent_sandwich.php

#2 Political Activist: After that sweet sweet recession special, I headed toward the theater. While blasting the radio I happened to hear that the Paul Frank Store on Melrose was registering voters.  Since I had just canvasses in Nevada all weekend, I thought I would check out how effective using a store as a political tool proved to be. It was conveniently located around the corner, so what did I have to loose? Nada. In fact I gained, turns out if you register they gave you a free concert ticket (already registered, of course, my canvassing efforts earned me a ticket to Of Montreal at the Palladium). They also had drinks, cupcakes, and deals on Paul Frank clothing once registered.  I was shocked that the store wasn't packed, but I guess it is a reflection of today's youth.  

#3 Film Buffy: On to the Montalban theater. This week they happened to be screening a Swedish Vampire movie titled 'Let the Right One In'. It was fantastic, one of the best films I had seen in a long time. This was a pleasant surprise since I figured it would be more of a horror movie (no my favorite genre). Sponsored by Flux and Nike, the Montalban theater has been pre-screening films every Tuesday night since August providing music, open bar, appetizers, and a slew of other goodies. A great way to spend the evening, and the cheapest date you could ever plan! Doors open at 7 and usually end by 10. I have enjoyed these screenings, and will be sad when the series ends this month.

Check it!   http://flux.net/cinema-tuesdays-october

What a fun-filled (and super cheap) evening!

Moral: Look, Listen, Learn, Save?

Dim-Sum-Brunch-Ride

Flying Pigeon, a sweet new bike shop in Highland Park, makes it easy for beginner bike enthusiasts to select a bicycle, they only give you two choices! These well equipped Chinese bicycles come in a range of colors with a lot of style. The shop also sponsers a sunday dim-sum ride.

Me and Kev decided to have a brother sister bonding moment and decided to check it out. The result? A feeling of accomplishment as I conquered biking the streets of downtown LA, my first city ride ever! It was definitely good practice for the longer more intense rides Kev has been trying to get me to go to for months.  

The sunday ride is highly recommended if you are a beginner like myself.  Flying Pigeon also provides a bicycle free of charge to test out for the day (If you buy one brunch is on them!). Dim Sum never goes over 15 dollars and you end the ride fulfilled not only because of the food, but through the sense of community you feel meeting other locals.

Make new freinds, and eat good food (while getting exercise), what more can you ask for on a Sunday afternoon! 

For more info on the Dim Sum Ride, and Flying Pigeon's awesome bikes, check out their web page at http://flyingpigeon-la.com/

    

Kev and I learning the 'rules of the ride'

Flock of Pigeons!!!!

Getting my wings...on the way to Ocean Seafood

Truckin'

While on my trip, I found myself indulging the inner-foodie, amongst other things (mostly plant related). 

Seeing as NY is filled with amazing restraunts I decided to go wild once I bussed in! 

I became obsessed, seeking out dumpling shops, fry bars, and gastro pubs, donut 'plants', hot dog stands and other amazing fare. 

This out of control behavior could create problems if not handled correctly. So, instead of aimlessly wandering the streets in search of great eats I devised a focused plan that balanced all that calorie consumption with an almost equal burn.( Thank goodness NY is a walking city!)

The end result was a food venture that concentrated mostly on 'mobile street food'( an idea inspired by my love of taco trucks in LA, and the new wave of gourmet food trucks that are sprouting up in citites all over the country), and included a few other places that I just couldn't miss checking out.

Trucks:

Dessert Truck

Mud Truck

TheWhoFarm.Org

Hearts Challenger

Belgian Waffles and Pomme Frites

Honorable mention, Best o' tha Best Americana:

Pizza: Bleeker Street Pizza-The Village

Hot Dog: Gray's Papaya (bring on those ressesion specials)-Differnt locations around town

Donut: Doghnut Plant- Lower East Side

Fries: Belgian frites-East Village
Bakery: Magnolia Bakery-SOHO

Fast Food: BAMN!-East Village

Cheap Bar Food: Alligator Bar- Brooklyn (free wood-fire pizza with each beer, absurd!)

Upscale ''     '':The Spotted Pig- Grenich Village

Candy Shop:Economy Candy- L.E.S

Road Trippin' on the East....A thing of the past.

I have finally made it back from my  journey down the Northeast Coast to my home in the West, Los Angeles.  I learned so much on this trip from garden growing, to an increased dislike in driving (that for those who know me was no much of a like to begin with).  I will slowly post my various adventures and findings within these wonderful cities through which I traveled. It will be a slow process but the fact that I am documenting the experience is a goal worth working for. Tune in, I assure you it's worth it!

A day off Island

Today was wonderful! Elliot Coleman's Four Season Farms is quite impressive, and the couples hospitality was much appreciated. A genius in the world of organics, elliot and his wife barbara manage to farm year round in Maine, and amazing feat if you realized the harshness of their winter season. Check out the Farm Store if your in the area. http://www.fourseasonfarm.com/

Meet-A-brother: Keith

Keith is the middle of my three younger brothers. He is an artist. He is most like me, so we argue a lot. I love Keith, he is great. Look what he can do:

Isn't he talented!

See more Keith...http://keiff.tumblr.com/archive

Red Scare

boomp3.com

Can't get enough of this song from Godard's La Chinoise.

Don't make pop songs like they used too!

Man vs. Nature

The Spectacle:

On a beach surrounding woods a series of incredible fireworks are set off, only to be trumped by lightening in the distance. A harvest moon rises, it's orange-red glow warm and romantic. Inland, the tree's fine foliage cast psychedelic shadows on the forest floor. Upon returning, the the guiding light has faded, but strong senses leads me through the darkness. A sight to see, an experience to be had, another day in Ilesford.

Check those mailboxes folks!

It's Craft Hour on the Island!!!

I am finally feeling better which means all of the countless hours I was was wasting sleeping, are now productive hours either working in the garden or CRAFTING!

My most recent mindless pass-time is creating friendship bracelets from the beautiful but very old yarn left on Nancy's porch. There is really not much else you can do with it, and throwing it away would be wasteful, so, voila! beautiful bracelets for all....of my friends of course. Will you get one? Would you even want it if I made one for you?

The finished product. (My 1st friendship bracelet! Given to Nancy)

My 1st official craft on the island, a Bonsai Balsam fir I found hiking complete w/ collected, seaglass, shell and moss . Ka wa ii ne?

More island crafts to come! Sea glass mobiles are next on the list.

In case you've yet to see it....

Here is my living-living room.  Oceanic version coming in the near future....

Happy Birthday to Me!

My yearly birthday gift has finally expired. Oh how I love airbrush.

                      

This Year: Graffiti Splash            

Last Year: Neapolitan Cheetah

You see my taste in eyewear hasn't changed.

Courtesy of Tim at Le's Nails, Highland Park

Rooftop gardens for all!

I LOVE these sweet, smart, n' silly planters designed by Nobuhiro Sato. 

Found them at Flora Grubb Gardens in SF.

Like Brother like Sister.

NYC Waterfalls

I Can't wait to see these in NY! 

Olafur Eliasson is incredible, and so is New York's public art fund!

Visit www.nycwaterfalls.com for more.

I can't forget PS1's urban farm PF1 either-

www.publicfarm1.org

So excited to be East this summer!

Isleford

I am now on an Island with Labrynthitis....sounds very exotic, but I assure you it is not.

I have been on this tiny island now for over a week, it is beautiful, and rich in an unexplored American culture. It is a place that is very difficult to describe without visiting for yourself. I wish I could explore/understand it more myself, but I'm afraid I will tip over.

I did manage to collect a nice piece of driftwood (to adorn with tillandsias), and a balsam fir sapling which I have bonsai-ed. I hope they make it home!

A side note: On 4th of July I ate my 1st (Maine) lobster in Maine, and saw fireworks from a Lobster boat. It was a crustaceastic night that probably lead to the state I'm in at this moment..boo.

A word to the wise....

Random reflections are heading your way.  Do not read on unless you enjoy nonsense, silliness, food, plants, and of course DEER, oh my!

So you want to study Horticulture?

hor·ti·cul·ture  (hôrt-klchr)

n.

The art or practice of garden cultivation and management

(Thoughts after finishing finals this quarter)

Just look at all the wonderful things you can create while earning your degree! Spreading that roach was just splendid!

Be warned childhood reversion gets old when there are deadlines to make.  Who knew collecting bugs could cause such stress? 

And then there were weeds......

Props to Flaxleaf Fleabane, you got me through this past week. So glad it's over.