November 2007
77 posts
Strunk and White for the Kitchen →
Writer, cook and Bourdain partner/nemesis Michael Ruhlman has a new book inspired by The Elements of Style. Looks promising.
Here’s a video of Ruhlman talking about the book (direct QuickTime link).
From the Archives: TNY on Langer's →
Nora Ephron wrote this for the New Yorker in 2002.
“The hot pastrami sandwich served at Langer’s Delicatessen in downtown Los Angeles is the finest hot pastrami sandwich in the world.”I haven’t had New York’s finest pastrami, so I can’t really judge, but Langer’s does make an incredible sandwich. The article is also a great read.
Wine Picks for the Holidays* →
The Rundown has some suggestions for what to bring to those holiday parties.
*Update: NY Mag has some too.
Beastie Boys' Show on Little Radio →
At the time of writing (Friday morning, 9:12 a.m. Pacific), the Beasties are on the air (direct iTunes link). You can listen to archives of past shows too.
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No More Free Rides on the Red Line: Turnstiles... →
“Metropolitan Transportation Authority board members voted 11-1 Thursday to take the first step toward installing 275 gates on the Red and Green lines and at strategic light rail stations.”I’m actually fine with this because I always pay anyway (don’t want that $250 ticket) and the whole honor-system idea is a bit silly. Maybe if the MTA starts taking the rail system more...
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Expo Line Gets Funding
I heard on NPR on the ride home that the Expo Line will get the extra $145 million needed to complete phase one. Can’t find a link to verify yet, but I’ll update this post when I track something down.
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GS: L.A.'s Best 'Martinis' →
I’m basically posting this because it mentions Musso and Frank’s.
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J. Gold: Michelin's LA Guide 'Irrelevant' →
“What bothers me is that the guide was so evidently put together as a fly-by-night project showing neither knowledge of nor much respect for Los Angeles, that the usual Hollywood banalities are recycled like so much fryer sludge at the biodiesel plant, and that there is so little imagination at work.”
Pwned! Gold recomments Gault Millau, and of course there’s always this.
Also...
Bright Idea for Downtown Rail →
“Thus the idea of the Downtown Fare Zone: Trips to or from any station inside the fare zone do not require the rider to purchase a transfer. Trips entirely inside the Fare Zone would still require a valid fare.”Example: If you were taking the Red Line from Hollywood into Downtown, you could transfer to the Gold Line to get into Chinatown without having to pay for a transfer.
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The 'New Rules' of Cocktails →
This article could also be titled “Cocktail Bars to Avoid at All Costs.” Apparently there is a growing trend of haughty lounges enforcing inane rules—no standing, no groups larger than four, no chewing gum—and clinging to some notion of the “modern speakeasy.” There’s a lot of talk about “enhancing the experience” and “enjoying the perfect...
A Flock of Crows is Called a 'Murder'
Yes, as in “There’s a murder of crows outside” (dictionary link; see definition 3). Though less common, a group of ravens may be called an unkindness.
Indie Rock Power-nap Tips
A proper power nap lasts between 20 minutes and one hour. Anything longer than that is not a nap—it’s going to sleep.
Be very careful taking a power nap after nightfall; it can be very disorienting waking up in the dark.
My brother swears by this one: Sit at your desk, fold your arms on the table, rest your head on them. Nap for 20. Boom.
Soulja Boy breaks the silence (via Power).
Mayor Tony's Pico/Olympic Plan →
“The plan, however, is to make them behave more like one-way streets, which are far more prevalent in other cities but have not been used much in Los Angeles outside downtown. In this case, the plan is to give a decided time advantage to those traveling east on Pico and west on Olympic.”Interesting; I say give it a shot. The best line is the last one (quoting Councilman Jack Weiss):...
Stunt-driving Classes →
“Over the two-day weekend class, you’ll learn shuffle steering, how to do forward 180s through a set of gates, how to box park your car and more.”Benji and I were just talking about how cool it would be to be able to pull 180s. Anyway the class is in Camarillo.
The Two Types of Gamers One Will Encounter Playing...
If you have one of those headset mics on, this is what you’ll hear:
Eleven-year-old kid with his buddies in the background asking if they can get next game
Thirtysomething with baby crying in the background; probably told the wife he would stay home and watch the kid while she went out with her coworkers
On Gabachos and Burritos →
Interesting.
Gridskipper's Favorite Fries →
Strong sweet-potato showing.
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Lou Reed Still Going Strong →
BlackBook says he is Manhattan.
Also in BB:
Eggers/Jonze to collab on Where the Wild Things Are movie
The Meanest Girl in Hollywood
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“If i were a party photographer i’d be called ‘the pugilist.’”
– A man called INFY
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Cedd Moses Juggernaut Continues, Casey's Next →
There are all sorts of changes at Casey’s Irish Bar & Grill downtown. For one, Cedd Moses’ 213 Ventures is now a managing partner in the operation.Jesus—the guy is everywhere Downtown. Casey’s website here.
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K-town Supermarket Graffiti →
Checking out HK Super at 1st and Western.
Concept Cars at Tokyo Motor Show →
Can I get that biplane in red? (Akira indeed)
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Mayor Tony Bobblehead →
A great holiday gift for the Antonio lover; via LAO.
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Photo Friends: LA Photo Archive →
Photo Friends, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving the LAPL photo library, has a new website.
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Vélib: Paris' Bike Program →
The bicycle is an amazing thing: elegant, efficient, healthy. And now you can get one almost anywhere you go in Paris.
“Beginning on July 15, thousands of bicycles became available in Paris at hundreds of self-service docking stations installed around the city.”You can rent the bikes with a credit cart. They’re free for the first half hour.
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Great Taco Hunt Redesign?
Bandini’s site has been dark for a few months now, but is now showing signs of life. Is he coming back online? We can only hope.
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“And Los Angeles, that’s where it had all happened. The fucking place...”
– Bowie, in an NME interview (1980)
Hey I was just wondering—do you guys need any...
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24-hour Eating Downtown →
Some old standbys, plus newcomer Mood.
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“I am coming back for Thanksgiving and you guys are all going to eat some of...”
– Schwartz, regarding Goldeneye 007
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Blue Velvet's Downtown Shuttle →
Blue Velvet is located in the Flat on the western edge of Downtown. It’s not a particularly pleasant walk to/from Downtown proper, so Blue Velvet has arranged a weekend shuttle service.
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“Stop with this ‘son’ bullshit.”
– Warren
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Interactive Downtown LA Guide →
Sort of an annoying interface, but it’s free.
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Pig Candy Recipe →
It’s bacon, sugar and seasoning. J. Gold supposedly loves the stuff.
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RZA Breaks Down His Kung Fu Movie Samples →
Nice—organized by film and song. Via ashleystar.
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Midcentury Exhibit at OC Museum of Art →
Full title: “The Birth of the Cool: California Art, Design and Culture at Midcentury”
Five Cheap Furniture Basics →
Good-looking, functional, cheap.
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Reliving 1920s Paris →
A guide to Lost Generation Paris.
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Freeway Naming Debate on KPCC →
Names or numbers? Direct Real Audio link here.
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Angelenic's Wish List for Downtown Conversions →
Twelve candidates for adaptive-reuse projects. Via Curbed.
“Smart, urban, high-rise housing has very little competition. The need has been...”
– Tom Cody in the LAT
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MIT's Smart Cities Project* →
“The research of the Smart Cities group focuses upon intelligent, sustainable buildings, mobility systems, and cities. It explores the application of new technologies to enabling urban energy efficiency and sustainability, enhanced opportunity and equity, and cultural creativity.”
Some very cool ideas inside.
*Update: More on the City Car.
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“You’ve Changed” by Jakie Sieg.
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Catching Up With the Paper LA Project 2007 →
Colorful.
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The Return of Absinthe →
“Whatever the effects of heavy absinthe use, this was, almost from the start, never just another drink. It has a special place in the history of modern culture.”A brief look at the history and reality of the green muse.