November 2008
17 posts
“A trip along Western serves up a distillation of the city–Hollywood, Sunset and...”
– Mary Mcnamara, “Exploring L.A.’s Asphalt Soul,” L.A. Times, 1999
Luck of the Draw →
A.M. Homes reads and discusses Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” for TNY.
Murakami Putting Down Roots in L.A. →
The artist has plans for an animation studio on Highland.
Are Big Cities Lonely? →
Jennifer Senior on urban loneliness. New research, Senior says, suggests that living alone in a big city might not be so lonely.
There’s a common conception of cities as isolating places where individuals are lost among the multitudes. But the basic need for social interaction also encourages solitaires (as the article labels them) to get out into the world, and in a vibrant city,...
The Curious Case of Helvetica and the NYC Subway →
Paul Shaw has an epic (9 pages!) look at how Helvetica became the one true typeface for New York’s MTA.
Late-night Metro Service Starts Friday →
The Red Line will run till 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday nights through Dec. 27. Too bad there’s no love for the Purple Line.
Los Angeles is Burning
As I write this, an otherworldly gray haze blankets Los Angeles. Smoke from Southern California fires filters the sun orange, a shade that could be beautiful were it not for the eerie dimness and apocalyptic stillness that come with it. The air is dry, crackling with static electricity, and the smell of ash is everywhere.
Previously: The Devil Winds, The End of the World
WatchAnother take-away show: Menomena, “Wet and Rusting.” Kids dancing at the 2:30 mark.
In the Mood for Grammar →
A nice lesson the subjunctive.
The Devil Winds →
Los Angeles magazine has an article this month about the Santa Anas, those hot, dry desert winds that torment Southern California, ionizing the air, desiccating eyes and skin, whipping up fires, and generally driving people to madness.
One of the strangest experiences L.A. offers newcomers is waking to a Santa Ana. The previous fall night may have been cool, even misty. After sunrise, the initial...
“Cut out all those exclamation marks. An exclamation mark is like laughing at...”
– F. Scott Fitzgerald
Friendly Fires, “Paris (Aeroplane Remix...
Curry Time →
I’m something of an addict when it comes to Japanese curry, so naturally I’ve been researching how to make it from scratch. The precise composition of the sweet, savory, gravy-like substance has been elusive, perhaps owing to its multicultural roots (a bit of Indian curry by way of England, a bit of French cuisine, a bit of Japanese quirkiness). Further complicating my quest is the...
Boom Time: Obama Wins →
It hasn’t always been easy to believe in this country these past eight years; tonight, it’s hard not to. Tomorrow is a new day, and we have lots of work ahead of us. Let’s do this.