A bit belatedly, let me announce...
Scorpion Bombs
is here.
I recommend you start from the start.
A disappointing turn of events all around. At least he gets to go home, I guess.
As you know, I don't really go in for what most people consider "LA." I'm rarely west of Western, and almost never on the Sunset Strip. I haven't been to the beach in a year or more. My LA is different, better.
Without further ado, here are five things that make me glad to live here.
1. The Vista.
This is the best theater in the world. It's a beautiful, odd combination of faux-egyptian and art deco architecture. It has legendary amounts of leg room. It shows all the big blockbusters during the summer before settling down to more cerebral fare for the fall. And best of all, it's right up the street. If you live in LA and haven't been, go now. Broken Flowers is currently playing.
2. Little Tokyo.
For some reason, I drive down to Little Tokyo a couple times a month. I go into the grocery stores, the kitschy stores, and the comic/manga/toy stores. I love Mr. Ramen, the only Rasta Ramen house in the world. It's also home to the Shabu-Shabu house and Frying Fish, the only sushi restaurant with a moving belt in LA. Invariably, I come home with a full stomach and some interesting baubles.
3. Wacko/La Luz De Jesus.
This combo store/art gallery is also right around the corner from me. It's sort of a Costco for indie culture. In among the rows of book shelves, tiki gods, action figures, hats, and ashtrays also lies a fantastic art gallery that usually features the kind of art I'd buy if I were rich and had infinite wall space. It's a bit chaotic, but that's the fun of it all. The first time I stepped inside I was truly amazed.
4. Grand Central Market.
Hopping on the Red Line and going downtown is always fun, but a trip to Grand Central Market makes it complete. It's the best place to get lunch downtown, and also the best place to get groceries, spices, flowers, and whatever else you need. Also, the Bradbury building from Blade Runner is right across the street. Word.
5. Skylight Books.
Can you tell I like Los Feliz? Someone should build an underground tunnel between Skylight and Wacko. I'd never leave. This is the best bookstore in LA. A wide selection and an inviting atmosphere spell bad news for my wallet every time I go inside.
Did I tell you I got a job at a fruit store?
In any event, I got up late-ish, made myself a sumptuous breakfast involving beans, eggs, chicken pesto sausage, havarti and tomatoes, showered and was on my way to Burbank by noon. I poked around Ikea for an hour and a half looking for some cheap solution to the stacks of books and DVDs covering the living room. That, and a frame for my Rhode Montijo poster. I must have a face that looks made to work retail, because two people in Ikea stopped me to ask me where things were. They both apologized after I stared at them blankly for a few seconds. Sometimes it seems as though I'm watching my own life from far away, like it's being projected on the side of a building next to the standard and I'm sitting in a very comfortable chair, several drinks into the night. I picked up some brochures on modular furniture, resisted florescent light bulbs and two wall clocks (one for LA time and one for Lafayette time, of course), and struck out on the frame front.
I headed back down to The Happy, where Matthew and I saw the Aristocrats, which was good, but the best thing about it was the South Park bit, which I'd already seen floating around the net for months.
Then I started to drive down to Little Tokyo, to try and make up for missing the Tofu festival (and Ozomatli) Sunday, but decided to head over to the K-Town Galleria instead. It's been a while since I've been here, but I needed something to cheer me up, and rifling through Korean and Japanese food always does the trick. I got some katsuobushi furikake, udon, ramen, the largest thing of nori I've ever seen, and some Korean cakes and ice cream.
After stuffing myself on seaweed and ice cream, I'm thinking about calling my agent and redesigning this site, making it more of a propaganda space for my writing and projects.
Oh, the big news I promised in July will probably come sometime in September. We're having a few issues getting things finalized. I'll give you a hint though. It sounds like "squadfasting."