Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Mister Heavenly II

Tickets did not run as expensive as expected for the Passion Pit - Mister Heavenly - We Barbarian - Peter Rabbit 4-band line-up at the Palladium in Hollywood. How could I pass it up? My main draw had been Mister Heavenly, a project band made up of some good names: Nick Diamonds of Islands, drummer Joe Plummer of Modest Mouse, Honus Honus of Man Man, and on bass Michael Cera!! Cera is young but loveable, from his Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist movie to his u-tube sketch with the kids from Jersey Shores. The band can use some time to figure out which direction they're headed, but seeing all four made the night worthwhile.

Michael Cera
Mister Heavenly
Honus Honus
Hollywood Palladium


Back up to my entrance. I arrived one hour early because the Palladium has all general admission tickets. With the new addition of Michael Cera to Mister Heavenly, I expected quite a gathering one hour before the show. However, I erred, and hit the jackpot when I stood about 20 people from the beginning of the line. After a serious security check, including being pat down, I stood in the second row of music hungry fans. I differed from those around me in what appeared to me to be two obvious ways. I had about 10 years on those around me. I also knew about the opening bands and not the headliner. The college students loved the headliner Passion Pit. We swapped music knowledge and it worked out quite well. Some college lady asked me where I went to school. The suspicious side of me thought she was up to something. I dropped my guard and talked to them for some time, later to realize one of her gal pals had wiggled into my space. Her furry vest violated my space bubble. The furry vest plus jumping plus pushing led to my exit to the old people gallery where I enjoyed the headliner with my peers. All in all, I great adventure.

Thursday, December 02, 2010

Mister Heavenly

I just read that Michael Cera joined a band for this tour season called Mister Heavenly. This band is opening for Passion Pit next Tuesday in Hollywood. Tickets cost around $45 with fees or $30 at the door. Tempting.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving! Tonight I'm making some saffron buns to share at the celebration. This is a mid-December Swedish tradition I will share tomorrow. My family will be happy they are not subjected to the saffron.

Provisional Hike


Sunday, I scouted a local trail to use for my provisional hike to become a hike leader. You can know this top secret, coveted information before it's even published. The hike will likely be to Echo Mountain and Inspiration Point in Altadena, CA; 10 miles round trip with 2700 ft elevation gain. It's a historic hike, tough, but well worth it. You'll encounter spectacular views of Los Angeles and ruins from a railroad and hotel. Please join!

A Hike to Weigh the Pumpkin


A special thanks goes out to my neighbors who let me use their scale to weigh my pumpkin. The result of the great pumpkin contest of 2010 is that the pumpkin weighs 21.1 lbs. The winner may email to claim the prize...the pumpkin. The hike to my neighbor's house was the shortest one I've set out on lately.

I have kept an active hiking calendar lately which brings me all sorts of happiness. My dad and I hiked in the San Gorgonio Wilderness Area a few weeks back. We nearly made it to the peak of San Jacinto (second highest peak in Southern California) but turned back when we feared a blizzard. A blizzard did not hit but the fog rolled in. We tired ourselves out enough from the climb up the "Devil's Slide" trail. The name says it all: steep. The next day we hiked to Tahquitz Peak where some volunteers for the National Park Service had opened up the fire look-out. I highly recommend this jaunt if you're in the San Jacinto area.

The next weekend, we participated in a compass and topographic map navigation weekend at Joshua Tree National Park, in the Indian Cove Campground. The week prior, we had to complete homework. In the homework we mapped a 9 mile trail through extremely difficult areas with rocky terrain where people have actually been lost. We thought we would take this hike on Saturday. No. And definitely no. We had much to learn before we embarked on a hike that would take at least 12 hours with advanced nav skills. Thus, the first day we practiced our skills, and on the second day we were set off with our new knowledge to find 4 locations using the compass and map, around 2 miles of hiking. Someone I knew, not naming names, took off without referencing the compass and found himself lost for nearly 2 hours. I, on the other hand, found my true calling and made it to the final destination in second place (I know it's not a race). Navigation is a unique skill which could save you from being lost, and the act of navigating is just plain old fun.

One thing almost threw me off my navigation trail. I spotted my first tarantula and nearly turned back running.

Hence, the next weekend, I participated in an off-trail hike in Joshua Tree National Park where we sought several out historic mines in the middle of the desert, around Queen mine. Again, using the compass and map is very fun!! We succeeded in finding the three mines we hunted for. Near one stood a cozy house made in the rocks. The miners had made shelves, installed a window, and fashioned a kitchen area. Impressive.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Pumpkin Contest

Some of you have been following me through two pumpkin contests. The first is a huge pumpkin at my lunch cafeteria. It weighed so much I couldn't lift it, thus I guessed it weighed 97 pounds. The person closest to the actual weight won a free lunch from the cafeteria people. After a few weeks, the bum of the pumpkin grew moldy. The winner was announced today... the pumpkin weighed 60 pounds. I am not as strong as I thought.

The second pumpkin contest is for the weight of the pumpkin on my kitchen table, also pictured is the previous post. The result of that contest has not been released yet. Stay tuned. Submit your vote.

Monday, October 25, 2010

Heels Signify a Top-Notch Weekend


After an outstanding Los Angeles weekend, I could not resist buying the heels pictured here at a Malibu garage sale... cowboy boots for climbing a mountain in heels.

Sufjan Stevens


Saturday eve Sufjan Stevens played at the Wiltern - a music venue in Koreatown in Los Angeles. Some fancy photos are posted here.

Sufjan in my mind is remembered as the man who wanted to make an album based on every state - "the states project." After making Illinois and Michigan, he disappeared somewhat for 3 years, only to reappear with "The Age of Adz" album. Instead of the classic folk banjo tune he typically boasts, this album plays with the fundamentals of sound, or so he said during the concert. Believe him. One of the songs is 25 minutes long, and well worth every minute of the listen. He explores music ideas and leaps into the techno-dance vibe. After the 25 minutes, he rewarded us with Chicago - a crowd pleaser.

I appreciated the extent of effort Sufjan put into making an unforgetable concert. There were two dancing singers in the back who coordinated with Sufjan in aerobic dance moves. The singers dressed in space-like suits which matched the images displayed on the screen behind the 10 piece band. The images honed the art of the late Royal Robertson, a schizophrenic art? type with apoctaliptic visions from which Sufjan drew his inspiration of this latest album. The music soared. And the night was unforgetable; one of the best concerts I have ever seen.

Tour de Fat


This weekend I participated with neighborhood friends in our friendly neighborhood wonderous whimsy - the Tour de Fat. This event is sponsored by New Belgium brewery in Fort Collins, Colorado which makes Fat Tire beer. New Belgium hosts a carnival aimed at bicycle awareness, fun, and to "roust a city's inner-cyclist". The #1 rule is:
1. Put no means of transport before thy bike: Come by bike because not only are bikes fun, but they help stave off some of our most wicked ills: Traffic, laziness, and pollution. Tour de Fat has a solution: ride this day, every day, and definitely when Tour de Fat heads your way.


Here are some photos of the hipsters who joined the bike parade:

Wisconsin fans:



Tall bike with full body outfit:


Big bird:



A garden in tow.



Banana Suit





Among the activities was a 5 mile bike parade through town with several hundred bikes - including my friends and I. We followed traffic signs. When we returned to the park, we ate at food trucks and sampled fat tire, for a small price. At "the pit" we tried out various bicycles, such as one with no tires but a circle of shoes instead. Other bikes had an off centered tire center so you moved up and down as the bike moved forward. Outside of the pit was a stage with entertainment - comedians, bands, carnival people on stilts. Toward the end, one person even traded in their car for a bicycle (very very nice bicycle).

Monday, October 11, 2010

CicLAvia Los Angeles -- 10.10.10



On Sunday I took to (7.5 miles of) the streets of LA during a "CicLAvia" event. The city closed 7.5 miles of streets and opened the streets to bikers, skateboarders, runners, walkers, or strollers. I felt a rush as I zoomed through intersections downtown. I threw caution to the wind with no car to run me off the road. Strangely I was one of the only nerds with a bike helmet, but I considered it a fashion statement. Enjoy these photos taken by others that I found online at laist.com.








Some history from the CicLAvia webpage:
Ciclovías started in Bogotá, Colombia, over thirty years ago as a response to the congestion and pollution of city streets. Now they happen throughout Latin America and the United States, connecting communities and giving people a break from the stress of car traffic. The health benefits are immense. Ciclovías bring families outside of their homes to enjoy the streets, our largest public space.


And a video, too!

San Gorgonio



My alarm rang at 3:15 a.m. on Saturday morning. Whoever said weekends are for sleeping didn't live in Southern California. By 6:00 a.m. I had driven two hours to the Vivian Creek trailhead just past Forest Falls, CA. I joined a Sierra Club hiking group to complete the 18.2 mile, 5,600 ft. in elevation gain, round trip to San Gorgonio, the tallest point in Southern California. San G hails at 11,500 ft. The weather, the company, and the views made for the perfect Saturday.

Pictured here is the trail just before the peak,


our group,


and two trees - the white one had been struck by lightening.


Monday, October 04, 2010

Movies with Movie Stars


This past week I watched not one but two movies in the theater.

First, I viewed "I'm Still Here," the Joaquin Phoenix mockumentary... or is it? For those who have not seen this movie, it's a documentary of a year following J.P. Remember when he showed up on David Letterman with a huge beard, was stoned out of his mind, and left his gum under Dave's desk? That was the year of filming. Anyway, the meaning of that movie will continue to develop for years to come. While somewhat painful to watch, it made me think long and hard about the life of actors, America's obsession with stars, and I pondered why we like people who have egos and problems. Somehow, I think this movie touched on a lot of ideas, while also confusing the viewer as to whether it was real or pretend. Again, a metaphor for life?

Second, I viewed "The Social Network." This is the movie about the origins of facebook. Justin Timberlake played the founder of Napster. Nice touch. I saw this movie at a one screen theater in my neighborhood. Sitting next to my friend were Charlie Day and Mary Elizabeth Ellis. They are main characters on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. The friends who were sitting by the actors are major fans of the show - serendipitous. Well we all played it cool to be watching a movie next to movie stars. However, the over eager newbie Angelinos behind us asked to take a picture with them. The actors asked to wait until after the movie. Sure enough, as we waited in the lobby after the movie, the fans took a picture with Charlie Day. An innocent bistander then asked Charlie Day, "Is that your friend?" To which he responded, awkwardly, "Oh... just a fan." And she so smoothly replied, "Are you an actor or something?" He mumbled and escaped outside. Ah to be a movie star at a movie!

Just another day in LA folks!!

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

New Couch Day



Today my living room was transformed from the perfect picnic place to a living room. My first couch arrived today. Enjoy the pictures, but don't take my word for it. You are invited to visit and try it out for yourself.

Saturday, September 18, 2010

I'm back!

Guess who has a new computer? Happy to be back to blogging. Pictures to follow.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

More on Cars

Last weekend I camped in the Big Sur, a California State Park on the ocean. On Saturday morning we were enjoying breakfast around the picnic table and heard a snapping noise. Slowly but surely, a tree fell across the road and SMACK onto a car. Seriously! And I thought I had it bad. Luckily no one was injured.

Thursday, April 29, 2010

The Universe Must Be Balanced

Have you ever felt as though if you became too happy, something bad would happen to balance your universe? I have thought about this at various times when I have an incredibly satisfying morning, then the afternoon goes terribly. Or similarly, when you are very bored, then become very busy... it seems that balance is the trick.

Today I upset the balance of the universe, and it led to a small disaster.

I found a beautiful apartment to move into - it's called a treehouse. The location, less than a block from a reservoir, could not be more picturesque. A huge glass sliding door makes up the front wall of the apartment, which opens onto a huge porch, overlooking the reservoir, hills, houses, and of course, trees. The apartment is part of a community where we share a lap pool and hot tub in the center of three homes. A famous architect designed this community, thus, I view my apartment like I live in art - the architect's art. The serenity is unmeasurable. So, I don't live there yet, but I will in mere weeks. Can't wait!

Oh, but it's too much happiness...

I came home and parked my car in the street near my house so other roommates would not park me in during the one hour I was in the house eating dinner before leaving for yoga. (At my current house we have space for 3 cars off the street but one car blocks the others in when all three are parked, thus, you risk being blocked in. In that case, you can trade places but it involves getting the roommate out to move the car. I avoided this possibility by parking on the street for the hour.) Convenient, easy, quiet street.... so I thought. When I went outside in an hour to get in the car and drive to yoga, what did I see but a huge dent over the front driver side wheel. Someone had backed into my car (or something). That perpetrator did not leave a note or ask around about who owned the car. I asked the neighbors if they saw anything and no one did. Unfortunately other nights guys are sitting on their porches, but not tonight. Instead I took to detective work and looked at the bumpers of the cars parked up and down my long residential street. Basically 3 out of 5 cars had scrapes and scratches and dents and oopses on their bumpers. It could be pretty much anyone in the city of L.A. This city terrorizes new cars with scrapes. My detective career may have just ended.

The universe made me the victim of a hit and run... but now the universe is balanced again.

Sigh. I called my insurance, made a police report, and now wait until tomorrow to see how much it will cost to fix and whether my insurance will go up as a result. The police labeled my case a misdemeanor hit and run. What a pain. Moving apartments is expensive (fronting deposits, moving expenses, buying necessities, etc) which makies the payment of any insurance deductibles unpleasant right now.

Life is expensive. But I'll pay for the universe to find it's center balance. In one week, all will be fixed and I will be that much closer to living in a treehouse.

The one positive thing that came of the "hit and run" was that I stayed home from yoga and watched Modern Family. Best show ever!

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

First Rattler



This past weekend I joined a backpacking expedition in the Santa Rosa Wilderness Area. We hiked Martinez and Sheep Mountain and spotted this rattle snake about 20 minutes shy of returning to our cars. Glad to have made it back!



I took many pictures of desert flowers.



California Adventures

Over spring break my sister visited. We whale watched on a boat tour - seeing sea lions, a whale spouting water and swimming near the boat, and dolphins. The second weekend, we took a drive to Sequoia National Park and where the giant trees greeted us with several feet of snow. On the drive back home, we stopped at a local orange stand for the best orange I have ever tasted, fresh from the tree.



Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Nordoff



Hiked to the top of the mountain Nordoff this Sunday. It looms above the city of Ojai, about an hour outside Los Angeles. Seven hours, 10+ miles, and great friends makes for a perfect Sunday.

The mountain hike itself was a bit of a reunion hike for several of my friend who met each other at summer camp in Ojai and attended/served as camp counselors for years of their youth. They recalled beasty summer days on the trail to Nordoff. We recreated that experience mainly by consuming chocolate muffins given to us from staff at camp.

Another factoid: People hike Nordoff to train for Mt. Whitney (the tallest peak in the 48 states which sits in Sequoia Nat'l Park, California, about 4 hours from Los Angeles). While I am not training for Mt. Whitney (yet), I do hope to climb many summits near Los Angeles. There are "7 summits of Southern California" to mirror the idea of the 7 summits of the world, the tallest from each continent. Yes, I'm obsessing over mountain hiking. And loving it!

Today's weather hit a record 87 degrees. Ahh, heaven.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Confirmed

Dept of interior webpage says Los Angeles experienced a 4.4 moderate. Can't sleep. Only wishing I bought emergency supplies. I just ran out of peanut butter, too.

Earthshake?

I think I just felt my first earthquake. Weird. A few seconds of feeling like I'm in a car on a bumpy road.

Thursday, March 04, 2010

Raw Food

Tonight I ate at my first raw food restaurant. The main dish was a pumpkinseed pesto linguini...which consists of raw rutabaga noodles, tossed with cashew riccota and pesto, pine nuts and sundried tomatoes. My friend swore that Joaquin Phoenix sat nex to us, but the waiter assured us the scruffy man did not identify as Joaquin. Close enough for us to call it a near star spoting. Sorry I forgot my camera because I would have loved to post some pics.

Swedes Sing

Tonight I attended the concert of Swedish singers Taken by Trees and El Perro Del Mar. Not going to lie, I felt it may be better staged at a 70s themed roller skating rink. That would only enhance an already groovy sound. Taller than Trees rolled film of nature behind them. The two female vocalists were clearly the center of the show, but the drummer also stole my heart.

In the past, I have seen Lykke Li, another Swedish indie/pop singer. She has recorded with El Perro Del Mar. That match was meant to be.

Wednesday, March 03, 2010

Merced, continued

As previously promised, here are more pictures from Merced, in central California. The pictures include the painting on the wall of the California visitor's center. Also, the famous old theater tower with the word "Merced" on it.







Nearby in Atwater, California, I toured the Castle Air Museum with a collection of mainly wartime airplanes to commemorate what used to be an Air Force Base (now a federal prison).



Lastly, on my drive back to Los Angeles, I stopped in Fredriksburg, California - a total Swedish town. They host a Swedish festival in the summer. All year round the Swedish flag flies from the light posts on the street, people sip coffees in the Swedish cafe, and these Swedish dalarna horses stand as a life-size reminder that Swedes rule.

Mystery Restaurants

Could you identify the restaurant in this picture? We couldn't for a few passes in the car. It's my neighborhood Pho, a Vietnamese soup restaurant. Super popular, dazzling in unique architecture, and just being there made me cooler.


Speaking of restaurants, I had the great fortune to spot my second celebrity this weekend. Tim Meadows sipped coffee at the table next to me in Silver Lake. (Cue, the lady's man from Saturday Night Live)

Also, I hunted down a restaurant. To be clear, taco trucks are incredibly popular in Los Angeles. However, this presents the very real possibility that you show up in the grocery store parking lot at 6:30 p.m. on a Tuesday night, stomach growling you're so hungry, and the restaurant (Ahem, taco truck) has not driven in to serve food yet. Not that I experienced it or anything. On Saturday, I had much better luck hunting down the ever-popular Kogi Korean Taco Truck. After at least 30 minutes of driving, in the rain (up hill with no shoes), we arrived to a long line of eager taco truck fans who had the same idea as us. Kogi moves locations every day. Was it worth it? Yes! Delicious. Whoever invented moving restaurants ignored the saying "location, location, location," and won.

Tuesday, March 02, 2010

Joshua Tree National Park

The desert began to bloom this spring. Last weekend we utilized our national park pass and hiked some trails.




Would you believe it if I told you that rain forced us to leave the camping trip a day early? Yes, rain and cold in the deserts of California. Still, heavenly, as proven by the rainbow.

Monday, January 25, 2010

Gateway to Yosemite


For a few weeks I am working in Merced, California, in San Joaquin Valley. The town is lovingly called the "Gateway to Yosemite" because of it's close proximity to Yosemite National Park. With around 60,000 residents, the town boasts a courthouse museum (pictured here), an airplane museum, and some fun restaurants. So far I have tried out Big Bubba's BBQ and plan to visit Sam Cafe, where Sam serves Thai, and also Cool Hand Luke's Steakhouse. Raley's grocery store is the local Whole Foods equivalent. This time in a smaller town than Los Angeles in California has allowed me to meet another type of place. Here agriculture is a major industry. As I drive to work I pass cows, sheep, and goats, as well as fields of what looks like grapevines. The views and quieter days are a welcome departure from life in the big city. Stay tuned for pictures of local attractions in the upcoming days.

Yosemite National Park





Some photos from this past weekend's winter wonderland in Yosemite National Park.