Something AMAZING is brewin'!

Well some great things are coming from around the corner. 

First, I surpassed 100 views!




Damn right! Thank you so much for reading what I wrote, it really means a lot.

So since I made that promise that I would do a lookbook, I be spending my time working on that! I think the lookbook will be up in a couple of days.





Second, I am working on a literary magazine! The magazine will incorporate specific themes but probably be connected towards Los Angeles. I will talk about it later and give more information on how you can order it yourself. 




So there are a lot of fun things coming from a round the corner. Stay tuned and keep reading. Also THANK YOU so much for everything you've done! :)

My day trip to Venice

A couple of weekends ago I managed to go to Venice. Venice is a whole different world compared to East LA, so I'll just write about my basic observations.

Venice is beautiful. It is a city filled with the history of the silent movie era. It was the home of Marion Davies, Thelma Todd, and others. It is the city of canals and it sits right next to the beach. It offers art, beautiful sites, and the innovative Abbott Kinney is a clean hipster haven.

Compared to the east side, Venice shows off its wealth but denies even having it. Venice is like a rich rapper trying to claim he's from Compton, it just isn't the case. Venice is good to visit, but sometimes it can also be annoying.

I got to go see the Venice canals and eat at a restaurant called Gjelina.

I went to the Gjelina take away right after seeing the canals. I had the veggie sandwich and I asked them to make it vegan. Generally food in Abbott Kinney is quite easy to make vegan so there wasn't any problems with that request. 

The veggie sandwich was good. It wasn't AMAZING, but it was good. Using a massive variety of pickled vegetables, the sandwich becomes a standard vegetable sandwich. It wasn't awful and it did the job of filling me up. 

I only wish I was amazed.   

Venice is always a good place to visit. It is a combination of rich hipster and new age ideas that put it on the top of the map. If you have a day to spare, share it with Venice.

Lookbook for 100

I know it's nothing but I'm near to 100 views!

I think when I get 100 views I will do a lookbook of some Hollywood icons!

YAY!

SO coming soon is a Hollywood lookbook!

Flashback Friday #6 ON A WEDNESDAY!

Sorry I have been silent for a while. I've been trying to get a job.

I haven't gotten one yet.

# 6 Mae West

I've known about Mae West for a long time. Watching older Looney Toons cartoons I was familiarized with the characterized big tit woman with the sensual voice saying famous phrases like, "What's happening Big Boy?"

I used to watch these old toons and thought they were funny, but I didn't know why they were funny. I knew what these people looked like, but I didn't know who they were based after. Mae West is an example of one of those people. 

Truthfully, I have never seen a Mae West Film. I really should take an initiative to see one, but I am just too ADDish right now. 

For those that don't know anything about Mae West, I will do a brief bio. Mae West was born August 17, 1893 in Brooklin, New York. In 1907 Mae West was performing in Vaudeville under the stage name Baby Mae. Overall West became quite popular and an overall big name in the preforming arts. Being a "controversial" artist, Mae West began writing her own plays. She wrote a play called "Sex" but she got arrested on "moral charges" and was sent to jail for ten days for "corrupting the moral youth". Despite being close to 40, movies started offering her roles in 1932. She stared in 11 films and sang in so much more. In 1959, she wrote an autobiography that became a huge success.  She passed away in November 22, 1980.

Mae West wasn't anything special to me until I found out how amazing she was.  Writing about things during a time where you would go to jail, West gave the finger to the prim and proper. Mae West was a big advocate for homosexual rights as well as women's rights. 

She lived most of her time in her penthouse at the Ravenswood apartment building. She had several boyfriends while living there. One of her boyfriends was William Jones, a famous boxer. One of my favorite stories was that the former owner of the apartment building banned her boyfriend William Jones because of his African American heritage so Ms. West gave him the "fuck you you racist bastard" remark by buying the building and lifting that ban. 

Mae West became also well known for her fights against censorship. Some of West's movies had to be heavily edited, and most of West's lines had to change into obvious sexual innuendoes. However that censorship became her image. In response to censorship, West said, "I believe in censorship. I made a fortune out of it."

I find Mae West amazing not because she was an actress but because she was a star that stuck to her morals. When she knew something was wrong she wouldn't stand by it even if it gave her a bad reputation. She was an innovator and a free thinker who saw gems in what was considered immoral shit. 

Going to Murphy's Ranch

I have successfully done one of the things I wanted to do this summer/ year.

I went to Murphy's Ranch!

I wanted to find some older photos of the area but I couldn't find them, but this is my experience to the wreck.

For those that haven't read the THOUSANDS of blog posts based on the history of Murphy's Ranch, nor seen the thousands of television segments based on the site, I will give you a small rundown.

Murphy's Ranch was built in 1930 in Rustic Canyon. It was owned by Winona and Norman Stephens, who were Nazi sympathizers. It was designed to be a base for the Nazi regime but it was raided on December 7th 1941 after Pearl Harbor. Afterwards, it was occupied by various other groups, hippies, homeless, whatever, and eventually it became abandoned in 1990. 

I've read about this, and I've seen a lot of the segments, but I never knew it was so easy to get to. I literally put it on my Apple maps and I found it. 

One of the first things I found was an abandoned car at the bottom of the cliff.

The initial journey starts off with a long hiking pathway. Being in Los Angeles hiking is a main component of life, so generally going to Murphy's Ranch wasn't a solo journey. 

Then, after a short walk, I found a gate with an opening. I went through the opening and walked down the stairs. 

Truthfully, the stairs were the best part about Murphy's Ranch. I found the stairs had so much to tell.

The stairs were our history. They were the path to evil comfortably placed in the center of nature. These stairs were covered completely with graffiti. The mixture of the urban and natural environments make a strong contrast that have to be seen. Walking down those stairs and seeing the last remnants of man made construction, you can see how weak we truly are compared to our planet. 

The other great thing that has to be seen is the graffiti art. Everywhere you look there is something awesome.

It is quite easy to break into the gates that are blocking the structures. However I didn't really want to see it. It didn't really bother me. I was more focused on the stairs.

Sometimes the clearest things are right in front of you. Los Angeles is a land of things that might seem boring, but with a deeper look, there is so much fun to do. I managed to do Murphy's Ranch in the morning and I really enjoyed it. Maybe next time I will check more inside the compound.

My Hopefully Glorious Summer and Year

I really shouldn't be doing this. I know it's May. I had my chance. This is wrong. I know I shouldn't make a "to do" list but I feel like my circumstances are different this year, so fuck it, I'll make my "summer and 2014 to do list".

So here it is...

Things to do in 2014

□ Learn how to make my own special blends of teas

□ Read 25 books (I've read five so far)

□ Go or shop at the Rosebowl Flea Market 3 times!

□ Go to the beach

□ Go to Disneyland

□ Go to four parties

□ Shop at Farmacia Y Botanica Million Dollar

□ Have a drink at No Vacancy

□ Visit the Museum of Neon Art

□ Run around the Tempest Freerunning Academy

□ Go to the Great wall of LA

□ Go to two concerts

□ go on a detox

□ Shop at the Last Bookstore

□ Go to Rustic Canyon's Murphy's Ranch

□ Go to the California Institute of Abnormalarts (CIA)

□ Go to an outdoor movie

□ check out the art walk

□ See 3 festivals

□ Get my tattoo

I think that's a good start!

Flashback Fridays # 5

Ok.

Ok.

stop.

I know. 

I know I fucked up. 

Look I know I needed to write last week and I didn't. Truthfully I fell under the demons of boredom. Nothing inspired me last week, so I didn't write shit. However I know it is my fault. I am the reason I don't get inspired because I don't do anything. I have all this free time and all I do is just sit and watch tv.

So I think next week I'll try to be more assertive.

But for right now I'll do a much needed Flashback Friday



#5 Lupe Vélez

Oh Lupe, Lupe, Lupe, how I adore you. I adore everything about you. I love that you were a civil rights protestor, I love that you didn't give a shit what others thought about you, and I love that the rumors about your death became a notorious and compelling story that explains why hollywood is utterly fascinating.

Lupe was pre marilyn, pre Rita, and she was one of the major stars that made a successful transition from silent to talkie. She was one of the major stars that worked with the best directors, and she began to create the temperamental and explosive Latina role that seems to be re-ignited with the character "Gloria" from Modern Family. She became a big success with some of her most memorable films, Lady of the Pavements (1928), The Wolf Song (1929), Palooka (1933), Laughing Boy (1934), Hollywood Party (1934) and the series, Mexican Spitfire, from the early 1940s.

However that was not the fame that stuck with her. When you talk about Lupe, a toilet is usually what comes to mind. The rumors of the porcelain statue becoming the ultimate demise for the starlet has continued to this day. 

She had an affair with Harold Maresch, that's for sure. She became pregnant and she wanted him marry her so they could have a family. He said no. He was a struggling actor that didn't need the bad publicity. His girlfriend even sued him saying that he would marry her. Lupe gave everything up for him, and he took it and ran.

Having nothing, she felt ending it all wouldn't be a loss. She wrote,

To Harald: May God forgive you and forgive me, too; but I prefer to take my life away and our baby's, before I bring him with shame, or killin' him.

Lupe.

She had one last dinner with her friends then overdosed on 500 Seconal pills. She expected it to be it, but stories made that her death would last a lifetime.

There are so many rumors on how she was found. One was that she woke up vomiting non-stop and slipped on her own vomit and smacked her head on the toilet. Another is that she bashed her head on the toilet. A newspaper of that time said she was found in her bed filled with flowers.

Huffington Post recently shared this police photo of the deceased star saying she was found on the floor. While this logically makes sense there is one issue that Huff Post didn't acknowledge.

During that time, the LAPD was EXTREMELY corrupt. There is a reason that there are murder/death mysteries from the Golden Era. It was because the LAPD was faker than the "news" on fox news. When celebrities died in an scandalous way, many studios fixed that issue. If a celebrity died, the studios would get to the body first and throw away the incriminating items they owned. In order to keep quiet and to not investigate that issue, the LAPD was usually paid off by the studios.

Lupe was probably moved. Whatever happened to her she was moved in a way to look like she was lying comfortably in her bed. If you overdosed, you would probably be sprung on the floor, not looking like you took a nap. 

Whatever happened is still a mystery to me. I really don't think it's "solved". However I don't want it to be solved. Lupe's story is the epitome of Hollywood, and is what I love about LA. She deserves it all, and that's why she is #5. 

read more about her death here

LA and Health

First, I find it appropriate to apologize for this week's lack of posts. It had seemed that the previous work week threw me off entirely to the extent I felt slightly depressed. That's the problem with this town, it isn't kind. LA, despite its lovely scenery, will spit you out when given the chance. You cannot let yourself get too down, because it will be too difficult to find a way back up.

So because of this lack of posting, or lack of wanting to post, I found that inspiration was as hard to find as finding a bar that is open past 2 A.M. Nothing was interesting anymore, and life seemed quite dull.

I thought about this issue while I was at the grocery store and then it hit me like a man dressed up as batman at Grauman's Chinese Theater. 

I'll write about health.

While Los Angeles seems to have a new interest on health, that is simply not the case. LA have been married to health for nearly one hundred years. Ever since silent movie actors became a known commodity, health and fitness became a thing to care and think about. We had finally had our own icons, our own golden gods, and being golden gods, silent stars needed to look the part.

Even though the argument against my statement could be that the world, not just Los Angeles, has always cared about fitness, I have to state that Los Angeles has always stressed on health more than any other country or city. Being a city of fame, many are drawn the the magnetized hope that one day they too will be famous. However coming to this city they realize that is why everyone is here, they all want the same dream. These people are prettier, skinnier, and more energetic, so to compete with that beauty, one must change one's health.  

Health is governed by the city through fads. Every new age idea has been recycled similar to the retro fashions that are done today. I was once told that vintage fashion is repeated every 20 years. I am going to make the claim that every 40 years health and fitness trends are repeated as well. Right now you might be drinking a freshly pressed juice, that is a fad, and it was obstructed by us, however it was also a fad in the 1970s. Yoga became cool about 10 years ago, however my neighbor Gypsy Boots, who basically introduced yoga, did so in the late 60s to early 70s. Health, like fashion, go hand in hand, and we're the ones that make it cool again.

Los Angeles needs health and health needs Los Angeles. For every apartment that is built here, two yoga dance studios are built right next to it. We need to be toned and bright because we have the whole world looking at us. We care about how we look because it makes us feel better and happier. The old running joke is that people would REALLY feel better if they just have a hamburger instead of a salad. Let me tell you that we have hamburgers, and they are some of the best in the world. However our hamburgers are clean and fresh, and that's the way we like it. We love our food as much as we love our health.

While we might seem snooty over our fitness regime and food, it is because we forget the rest of the world doesn't have this scrutinized concept leaning over them. Also it is because we have a regime, and as human beings, it's hard to break that. So I want to explain to you that we're sorry about how picky we are. It is just that we've had a lot of years working on how we look and how we feel. We want to live long enough to see how glorious this city is. We want to wake up and know we have enough time to see it end. The beauty of this city is something to astound you, and when you truly see it first hand, you'll do whatever you can to live long enough to see it every day for the rest of your life.

Flashback Fridays #4

Growing up in this city there is one major thing that has never lost its fervor. Murals have always fascinated me and have always grabbed my interest. They were paintings for the common man; something that was for everyone to enjoy. 

Murals are around all of LA. They all have different meanings. Some are preserved, some are not. While we all cherish the newly found graffiti street art, I thought it might be interesting to appreciate an older street art form, a famous mural.

#4 América Tropical

América Tropical is pretty spectacular, and, better yet, it has been recently restored. It was once criticized because its realistic approach clashed with the idealized look of Olvera Street, something considered an idealized image of latino people. Painted in October 9, 1932, the América Tropical was painted using spray paint, which was a renowned during that time. 

What David Alfaro Siqueiros did was depict the torturing of the indigenous latino right in the center of the empire.  The racial prejudice was quite high, and a lot a resentment was being held by both parties. During this time (Zoot Suit Riot) many latinos were being deported and attacked. With the mural, artist David Alfaro Siqueiros pointed the middle finger to the nonchalant approach of politics during that time.

This message was not taken so lightly. When the once Disneyland-esque Olvera Street displayed the controversial painting for all to see, it was whitewashed soon after.

However eighty years later, the Getty Conservation restored the mural and opened it up to the world on its 80th birthday. 

I have a small fascination with this mural because it is so essential LA. It was something hidden from the whole world filled to the brim with history. It is a stepping stone to who we are today, and we had no idea. Having the América Tropical back into our lives allows us to understand that LA isn't simply celebrities and botox, but a city filled with scandal and political upheaval.

If you want to see it, take a trip to Olvera Street and see what your city has to offer.

watch more here

Here Comes The SunCafe, and I Say, It's FANTASTIC.

There is a giddy feeling you get when you find a good restaurant. It's that kind of feeling you get when you have a good secret, something so good that you want to tell others, but you won't.

However, I will. 

I'll tell you about SunCafe. 

See coming back to LA I was a bit disappointed. My favorite vegan restaurant Cafe Gratitude had changed dramatically. What was once a hippy raw vegan restaurant had changed into a new aged vegan restaurant that served, fake meat.

Being a vegan I do not understand the point of fake meat. The point of my transformation into a plant based diet was my renouncement of all animal like products, and to me, fake meat is a animal product. I understand that that it literally isn't meat, but I don't see the point of living in a lie by pretending to eat meat but forsaking animal cruelty at the same time. 

This is where SunCafe comes in.

SunCafe, to me, is a new cafe that focuses more on the raw vegan realm by making its meals out of plant products instead of processed goods. If I am going to have a burger of some sort, I would want it made out of chickpeas instead of soy protein. Raw meals or even plant based meals feel more nature based and real than anything soy could ever come up with.

When I came here I ordered the Sun Burger as well as the kale shake. While the Kale shake is quite big, it is ridiculously delicious. Topped with goji berries, the kale shake tastes like a sweet vanilla shake, but it is enriched with kale and other nutritious goodies. The sun burger was flavorful and tasted like a nice roasted burger. I had the side salad with a sprouted bun on top of the burger, and overall I was very satisfied with this meal.

The best part about eateries like the SunCafe is that it remains vigilant and true to its motos. On its website, the SunCafe, "is a celebration of food". By staying true to organic local ingredients, the SunCafe stays away from cheap fake meat by products to create a delicious meal.

The SunCafe offers a lot to what I want, and I am very thankful for that.

I know you'll enjoy it!

SunCafe

3711 Cahuenga Blvd West, Studio City, CA 91604
* 818-308-7420 *