Dayshots: Hill & 9th

I get a sense of yearning whenever I pass this building.


I have fantasies about living behind those broken windows.


I think this building would be beautiful with some care and attention, but it doesn't look like that's happening any time soon.

Easter at the South Park Flea Market

Don't forget to visit the Flea Market this Sunday!

Free admission, free parking, free hot dogs, and bands performing live!

Officially: Grand & 8th
Actual entrance is closer to: Olive & 8th
90014

The Brewery Art Colony

I had no idea that this place existed until Angelenic announced The Brewery Art Walk this week.

I did some poking around online and found this YouTube video about the colony:



Very cool. Seems like a Bobo's Paradise.

Brewery Art Walk Spring 2008
2100 N. Main Street @ Avenue 20
Los Angeles, CA 90031

April 5-6
11AM-6PM
"Free parking, free admission, no excuses."

Happenings at Lost Souls

Tonight, March 18, 7:15PM: Tuesday Night at the Cafe kicks off its 10th Season at Lost Souls.


Sunday, March 16: Music, poetry, spokenword and free screen-printing

When I asked Nicanor how he started his screenprinting, he said he learned because he just loves it.

Leafless tree.

Nicanor had at least four different designs.

There is nothing that I love seeing more than people gathering to participate in events like this out of sincere love for the art, the music, the words.

Nightshot at Hope & 9th

The clock tower at Grand Hope Park, taken while on the way to Ralphs:


I love the sepia glow that those old street-lamps give the city.

Where to Get Pie on Pi(e) Day?

It's 3.14. This means it is Pi(e) Day, which means I am going in search of delicious pie today.

Where to go to find the best pie?

I don't trust Yelp.com completely, but it's a good place to start.

Three Nights at Lost Souls

March has been insane and I haven't been able to go cafe-ing as I usually do during the week, but I guess I stocked up during the last week of February, when I went to Lost Souls three times.

Sunday, February 24th: Talking Drum (Open Mic Night)

There was an eclectic mix of singers and poets starting at around 7:30PM. There was a good energy to the crowd, and though there was definitely a sense of there being an "in crowd" of regulars as there always is at open mics, the atmosphere still seemed very friendly to newcomers.

Tuesday, February 26th: Touzie Tuesdays

Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of the DJ playing fun 50s (?) music while holding her adorable baby, but here is the infamous Nicanor: musician, barista, artist, and all-around friendly guy. He sat and shot the breeze with me about life and art and travel. He created that painting on the wall on the right.

Wednesday, February 27th: Hobo Soup


My most memorable Hobo Soup quote came from a song that went "there's more to life than eating a rice cake, you skinny bitch." I can't wait to go back next month to hear the eclectic mix of folk performers.

I have no idea when I'll finally be able to saunter over to Lost Souls Cafe again, but I am hoping that it will be soon.

LA Times Looks at Rental Prices in LA

An LA Times article highlights one of the reasons so many working class people live outside of LA even if that means a 2-hour commute each way:

One reason housing prices are so high is a requirement that newly built multiunit dwellings (and condo conversions) provide at least one -- usually two or three -- parking space per unit. This inflates the cost of each apartment and discourages construction of smaller, more affordable units because developers would be required to provide even more parking.

"The fixation on parking in Los Angeles has driven up the price of housing and increased congestion on our streets," said Donald Shoup, a professor of urban planning at UCLA. He said including two spaces with a unit can add about $45,000 to construction costs.

One solution would be to waive the parking requirement for smaller apartments, thus creating an incentive for developers to place more such units on the market. And because there'd be no parking cost built into the rent, such units would (in theory) be cheaper than apartments that come with extra room for vehicles.

This could have the added benefit of increasing demand for public transportation -- presuming, that is, people would trade car ownership for reduced rent. Increased demand would hopefully spur development of commuter-friendly projects like a long-delayed Westside subway line.

One issue that is missing from MetroRiderLA's "Reasons to Live a Transit Oriented Life" survey is "Because parking a car in L.A. blows!" That is definitely another reason I prefer to walk or bike places-- I get to avoid the utter frustration of searching for a parking space, which is probably almost (or even more) stressful than sitting in traffic.

Flashback: Ralphs' Beginning

News from 1921 LA Times.

Dayshots on 23rd

Building:



Parking structure for new LA Trade Tech College South Campus

Breaking (for more building):


Palmer Development to open in 2012 on a parcel acquired from Orthopaedic Hospital

It will be interesting to see what the SoDo (South of Downtown) area looks like ten years from now. This development reminds me of Gary Haddock's vision for SoDo.