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Nobody Listens to Turtle

"When the wave breaks here, don't be there or you're gonna get drilled."

It wasn't my intention to make the last few blog posts about movies, it just happened that way. I don't consider myself much of a movie buff, I don't have the attention span for them, although with all the movie chatter lately I don't expect anyone to believe me. Truth is, I used to watch a lot more movies in high school and college, and one of my all time favorites is the 1987 classic surf film North Shore.

I grew up fully immersed in the surf culture, that is until a dolphin I mistook to be a shark swam under my board which would mark the end of my brief yet exciting surf career at the ripe ol' age of 15. My dad, cousins, uncles, and even my mom surfed. My mom was actually the first female on the surf team at her high school, something she reminds me and my brother of whenever we threaten to revoke her cool card. So being raised in a family full of surfers, naturally the movie North Shore was in the queue often. My favorite character from that movie has to be Turtle, the adorable board carver and local that teaches the kid from the mainland how not to be a "howley". I didn't pay much attention to the rest of Turtle's (who's real name is John Philbin) film career, he definitely ranks high on my list of pop culture icons.

Fun fact: The legendary surfer Gerry Lopez who played "Vince" in the movie is my dad's second cousin. I know, right? Dude.

[Photo via Hypokritical]

'Exit Through the Gift Shop'

What happens when the most prolific graffiti artist in the world hooks up with a deranged film maker with an obsession for capturing street art? Well, you get the first ever "street art disaster movie," of course. Filmed by Thierry Guetta (aka Mr. Brainwash) and directed by Banksy, 'Exit Through the Gift Shop' documents the behind the scene footage of some of the most notorious street artists of our day doing what they do best when the sun goes down. Some of the artists featured in the movie include, Shepard Fairey (OBEY), Buffmonster, Swoon, Dorf, Cyclops, Space Invader, and of course, Banksy.


The Los Angeles film premiere took place last night at the historic Los Angeles Theater in downtown LA, and brought together all sort of Banksy fans from every walk of life. The setting could not have been more perfect: a graffiti soaked red carpet, a random mix of celebrities, artists, street writers, and a masked man playing the piano, all under one roof. After the movie screening the after party kicked off downstairs in the beautiful art deco salon. Banksy's signature street style balanced the classic architecture of the theater making for a radical juxtaposition of sights and sounds, including cocktail waitresses in ski masks and kissing bobby's working the pole to the music of the 1920s.

More photos of the 'Exit Through the Gift Shop' premiere can be found on the DLRPR Flickr page.

I'm always in CONTROL

The movie CONTROL (2007), a biopic about the Manchester-based band Joy Division was directed by renaissance man Anton Corbijn and is one of my very favorite films of all time about arguably my very favorite band of all time. I'm watching it for the 1,417, 960th time, and it never gets old. You could make a beautiful portrait out of each and every still frame of this movie.

Hey, That's My Bike!

Where my riders at?

I'm happy to announce the creation of the 'Hey, That's My Bike!' Community on Lunch. I created this niche review website to be a place where people can share reviews, micro reviews and lists of their favorite bikes, bike products, websites and other resources with others who share the same personal passion for the chic cycling lifestyle. I'm not a high performance kinda bike rider; I love the aesthetics and sleek design of well designed bikes & accessories, and want to hear more about the brands that you love (or hate) so please feel free to share with the group.

Anyone who knows me is aware of my obsession with 'Marci' my gorgeous 1-speed bike from Venice, California-based Linus Bikes. I recently got my new Kryptonite Series 2 bike lock in the mail, and am anxious to test it out and share my thoughts with the group. You can also expect to see a review of my super rad Blaze 2W lights from Planet Bike; these are just a few examples of the types of products I'd love to see reviewed within this community. I'm also interested in hearing about any websites, iPhone applications (iMapMyRide, Google local, etc.) and online stores you shop at for bike gear. Consider me a sponge, I want to absorb it all!

Please don't hesitate to reach out to me through Lunch if you have any questions about 'Hey, That's My Bike!' I'm here to help and I'm really excited to see this group grow, and learn more from other members of the community!

*Remember* if you don't have time to write a full review just yet, you can always submit a micro review (140 characters or less) as a starting point. This is a quick & easy way to spark a conversation with the other members and also a great way to ease into the review process. Soon you will realize how fun and fulfilling sharing this sort of info with a community can be!

You can also keep up with the community on Twitter.

Ride on,

Aunny D

a community on Lunch.com

Rock -n- Platinum Design + Music Showcase, 10-29-09

Tickets for the Rock-n-Platinum Preview & Party are officially on sale now. Buy your tickets before Friday, October 16th and get 20% off with the earlybird special (just type in this discount code without quotation marks: "earlybird").

BE A ROCKSTAR! - VIP ticket - $75
Includes 3 drink tickets for 3 signature cocktails, 20 raffle tickets, access to VIP suite, valet parking, RnP T-shirt, and a chance take a test ride in the Tesla Roadster.

YOU STILL ROCK! - General admission - $50
Includes 2 drink tickets, 5 raffle tickets, self-parking.
Proceeds from ticket sales benefit Habitat for Humanity of Greater LA.

Check out our snazzy invitation to find out more about the event, the designers, the lofts, the ticket levels, and pretty much anything that you could possibly want to know about the event.

Remember to keep your receipts as the cost of your ticket is a tax-deductible expense. Proceeds from the party (and the four week showcase that follows) benefit our favorite non-profit, Habitat for Humanity of Greater LA.

Another cool factoid, when you buy your ticket through InTicketing, please note that for every ticket sold, a tree is planted. So that means, DON'T PRINT YOUR TICKET. Just come to will call and we'll check you in.

Rock on!

'Maybe so, Maybe no'

I met some of the cats from Mayer Hawthorne at a BBQ recently. I was 1 of 2 people originally from Southern California in attendance, the rest of them were reppin' Ann Arbor (or "A deuce"). They have a fresh new sound and a strong celebrity following already. Mayer Hawthorne will be performing on Thursday, September 10 at The Roxy before the Sunset Strip Music Festival pops off.

Check out their new video 'Maybe so, Maybe no' below.

Mayer Hawthorne - Maybe So, Maybe No from Stones Throw on Vimeo.

Vote for SANCHO in Cutest Dog Competition!!!!

Aunny D Interviews Nic Adler from @Theroxy for the Lofts @ Cherokee Studios Blog

Click the image above to be redirected to the Rock-n-Platinum Blog.

Here is an excerpt from the interview...

Aunny D: If you could resurrect any musical LA landmark(s) what you would it be? (i.e. Coconut Grove, Madame Wongs, Hong Kong Café, Aron’s Records)?

Nic Adler: More than any landmark I’d like to see the (Sunset) Strip as a whole achieve the same relevance and importance it had back in the day, that is really the goal of the SSBA and events like the Sunset Strip Music Festival. Neighborhood events like these remind people that LA is the music capital of the world, promotes the legacy of the strip and the importance of the past.

In the 70s, bands like Bob Marley, and The Clash weren’t playing venues like the Staples Center they were playing either huge stadiums or smaller clubs like the Roxy, the Whisky a Go Go, the Troubadour, and maybe the Palace. Back then, clubs didn’t look at neighboring venues as “competition” instead they were thriving by working together. My goal today is for the Strip to be reinstated as the breeding ground for legends just like it was back then. It would be a coup for us who are a part of the Strip, and I think that we are starting to see that actually happen.

Funk Rumble Block Party LA

If you're looking for something to do in LA tomorrow. Check out this funky fresh happening in Chinatown. Get on down to Chinatown...

World's Ugliest Dog Contest

(Photo Justin Sullivan for TIME.com, 'World's Ugliest Dog Contest')

Before the long holiday weekend officially begins, we wanted to leave you with this important public service announcement: Ugly dogs need love too.

This is what happens when a Chinese crested and a Chihuahua mix. It's not pretty but for some reason we want one for the office.

Happy 4th y'all!

SaveOurTacoTrucks.org

While @DwellOnDesign this past weekend, we had the opportunity to attend a few of the panel discussions during the conference, one of which was themed after the sudden resurgence of mobile eateries in-and-around Los Angeles. One of the panelists was Christopher Rutherford, a man for whom we have come to find a great deal of respect for, and the co-Founder of SaveOurTacoTrucks.org. This organization lobbies to preserve the remaining rights (they have very few) of the mobile taco trucks & street vendors, trying to find reasonable alternatives to recent city ordinences that prohibit these hard-working people who make a living providing us with the awesomeness that we know as the late night taco truck. Their tagline 'Carne Asada is Not a Crime' certainly caught my attention and aside from showing my support by patronizing the local taco trucks, I thought it was important to give Mr. Rutherford a quick shout out for the work that he has done, and continues to do to keep this quintessential LA business model alive and well.

So c'mon y'all, spend the $5 for an incredibly tasty homecooked meal, SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL TACO TRUCK. Where else are you going to get our street meat? Wait...that sounded weird.

John Van Hamersveld

I think surf culture is pretty cool in general, but there is nothing cooler than the 60s surfer scene. Last night at a little shin-dig we put together @Gallery319 my eyes were opened and I saw a piece of art, in the words of one of my favorite songs 'twice for the first time'. It seems as though lately, I haven't been able to escape the name John Van Hamersveld, but until last night I didn't put it together that this was the same artist responsible for the iconic Endless Summer image.

Whether you're a fan of surf culture or not, you know John Van Hamersveld. He made a very successful living, and continues to do so, designing some of the most iconic posters & album covers of our generation. You might have heard of a few of them, one is 'Exile on Main Street' the other, a little album called 'Magical Mystery Tour'. To me, Hamersveld is the epitome of counter-culture, and to this day his brightly colored interpretations of popular artists continue to make an impact on modern-day artists everywhere.

A small collection of his original work can be found at Gallery 319 in Santa Monica.

dwell on design LA 2009

It seems that things really do improve with age - and that includes design conferences. Dwell, a San Francisco-based magazine is hosting its second dwell on Design here in Los Angeles this weekend (6.26 - 6.28), and I have to say that it keeps getting better and better with each year. I attended the first ever dwell on Design conference in San Francisco three years ago, and with each year that goes by the event continues to impress me.

Something I'm especially interested in checking out, being the self-proclaimed "foodie that I am is the Mobile Restaurant Row which will include the infamous Kogi Korean BBQ, and DLRPR friends + favorite mobile organic catering company, Green Trucks. For a quick glance at the exhibition, including keynote speakers (Yves Behar, Fuse Project), special events (Restaurant Design Awards), click here. Other websites to keep an eye on are the official dwell on Design Twitter account, and the dwell Blog.

Echo Park Film Center

It's pretty cool when you stumble upon these type of resources in your own backyard. The Echo Park Film School was introduced to me by one of my favorite weekly e-zines, ArtSlant LA, EPFS is a non-profit organization that provides affordable multimedia rentals, video format conversion, adult + youth film education, and they also host film screening and festivals throughout the year. This is a volunteer run organization, and they are always looking for a few good men/women.

Address:

Echo Park Film Center
1200 N. Alvarado Street (@ Sunset Blvd)
Los Angeles, CA 90026

Hours:
Wednesday: 2 - 7 PM
Thursday: 2 - 10 PM
Friday: 2 - 7 PM
Saturday: Noon - 5 PM
Nights we have events 8 - 10 PM.

www.echoparkfilmcenter.org

(Excerpt from ArtSlant LA) The Echo Park Film Center is a volunteer-run, media arts organization dedicated to educating and exposing the public to film and video arts in creative, inclusive, and affordable ways. They host events, screenings, and classes as well as providing rental opportunities. The space itself is understated and comfortable, offering a communal and welcoming atmosphere that compliments the organization’s aims. This is the kind of place you drive by and wonder about, but with ample street parking and the friendly and knowledgeable staff, it is well worth taking the time to stop by. Their nightly screenings and events are not to miss.

Our most recent obsession...Blip.fm

'Make Something' Los Angeles

Aaron Rose (a cool cat: RVCA / ANP Editor, Founder of Alleged Gallery in NYC) and Kanye West (everyone knows this arrogant - insert personal pronoun here) are responsible for a very cool after school program coming soon to Los Angeles called 'Make Something'.

(Had to share, live and direct from Wooster Collective)

While in Washington DC last week we had a chance to catch up with Aaron Rose, founder of the legendary Alleged Gallery in New York and co-curator of the groundbreaking museum exhibition “Beautiful Losers.” Over lunch Aaron gave us a sneak peek of "Make Something!!" an absolutely amazing educational initiative that he's been quietly developing with Kanye West.

When the new "Make Something!" studio formally opens in Los Angeles later this year, it will definitely be the coolest after-school program in the world. Bar none.

Based on the DIY “Do It Yourself” culture that has driven so much of the creativity in skateboarding, surfing, punk, hip-hop, and graffiti, "Make Something!" has the potential to completely re-invent how art and creativity is taught to school kids.

Kanye West explains it quite well:

"I believe every child is born an artist. That ability to express ourselves freely is inherent in every child, whether it’s through singing, dancing, drawing or playing. Somehow as we get older society and culture dampen that spiritmaking us self conscious about expression. I believe Programs like Make Something!! help to keep this creative spirit alive as well as show kids that being an artist is a viable career path. As public funding for schools and artsprograms continue to be cut, programs like Make Something!! are critical to breeding future generations of artists who can contribute to the greater cultural fabric that keeps America forward thinking and progressive."

Aaron also explains: "I was one of those kids who absolutely hated school. I always felt that I didn’t quite fit into the education system as it was and yearned to find a place to belong. I started the Make Something!! program to be a home for kids who feel as displaced in school as I did. Last summer, when we first started the Make Something!! workshops we had no idea that they would have the effect that they did. Our original concept was simply to hold ten workshops that exposed a small number of kids to DIY (do-it-yourself) ethics. Since then the program has grown exponentially, beyond my wildest dreams. Seeing the looks on kids faces when they actually accomplish something that they never thought possible has been one of the greatest rewards of my professional career.

So far Make Something!! workshops have exposed more than fifteen hundred kids to DIY principles. The full curriculum will include spectrum of artistic pursuits including visual arts like painting and drawing, cinematic arts like film production and editing, and fashion and music. Some of the artists who Aaron has lined up for "Make Something!!" include Barry McGee, Spike Jonze, KAWS, Kanye West, Chloë Sevigny, Jeremy Scott, and Terry Richardson.

When we were in Washington, Aaron said he has "come with an agenda". For us, it was awesome to see that Aaron was taking all the learnings from the amazing things he's done, as well as all the connections he has, and focusing them now on children's education.

We can't wait to see what Aaron does with "Make Something!!"

Invisible Art

This is pretty radical. I had to share (compliments of Wooster Collective)

'Sara Watson, a design student studying drawing at the University of Central Lancashire, spent three weeks taking a battered old Skoda and making it "disappear" by painting it so that it blends in with the surrounding area.

The BBC reports that the car is now being used as advertising for the local recycling firm that donated the vehicle.'