Mormons - La Jolla, CA

Caltrans District 7 Headquarters - Downtown Los Angeles

Morphosis' Caltrans District 7 Headquarters in Downtown LA is one of the most unreal buildings I have seen in a while. Like most architecturally significant buildings of our times, i.e. the Walt Disney Concert Hall, you might notice it from a car commercial or two.

My favorite features of this building is the way the address of the building is displayed and the function of the screen wall on the building. Which can all be seen here.When I first saw the building I thought the design of randomly open aluminum panels was a bit superfluous until I read an article in Architectural Record about it. Basically the screen panels "open and close mechanically in a continually moving pattern, providing surface variety on the facade, shielding the interior from the sun and giving office workers changing views to the outside." Not only this but it helps release heat that would otherwise be trapped between the shade and the offices.

Frank Lloyd Wright - Anderton Court Shops - Beverly Hills, CA

Built in 1952 the Anderton Court Shops, located on Beverly Hills famed Rodeo Drive, is one of the only commericial properties built by Frank Lloyd Wright.

The Academy Theater and 5th Ave. - Inglewood, CA

Both of these theaters are located a couple of blocks from each other on Manchester Blvd. (3141 and 2541 respectively) in Inglewood, the "City of Champions". The Academy Theater, designed by renowned architect S. Charles Lee, was built to to host the Academy Awards although it was never held here and is now a church who keep the theater well preserved. The 5th Ave. on the other hand is sadly neglected but right next door to Permanent Hair Replacement and Lookin' Sharp!

New Explosions in the Sky song "Welcome, Ghost" MP3

This is, what I read from P-Fork, the shortest song in their whole catalogue and is off the forthcoming LP All of a Sudden, I Miss Everyone. I actually saw them perform this at their recent and amazing show at the El Rey. That being said it was a little meaner and guitar heavy at the show. Warning: This song is a speaker destroyer as I have never heard a song so bass drum heavy, I couldn't imagine listening to it loud in your apartment without upsetting everyone around you. It's a strong song but to me their music is more contextual to the album itself so although it's far from a disappointment I am still waiting to hear it in context.

The album will be released on February 20th and will also come in a limited edition double disc which includes a remix cd that with the likes of Four Tet and Eluvium. You can hear the song in full below.

Welcome, Ghost

My New Favorite Website: HornyManatee.com

www.hornymanatee.com

There is a great story behind this but I want you to go to the site first, have a laugh, and then I will tell you about it.

Done? Checked it out? Okay.

I rarely watch TV. These days I never find time for it, the only show I watch with any form of consistency is Real Time with Bill Maher (even that is only on On Demand which I watch at my convenience). That being said, I was up last night on the computer and decided to have The Late Show with Conan O'Brien, a show I love but have not watched for ages, on in the background. I love the show but again, the act of watching TV is one that I avoid. He began to talk about how he had a sketch on about new rejected mascots, a staple of the show, and how the night before he made a joke about how you can see him at www.hornymanatee.com. What he didn't know is that if he says a website on the air, even as a joke, and it doesn't exist, NBC is required by some sort of law to purchase that domain name.

Conan decided since they had to buy it that they should not let it go to waste so they made the page itself. I was really in stitches about this, yes I just said that, and I thought it was so funny that I would share it with you. So enjoy the hot Manatee action.

The Fountain - An Abomination

I can’t write a review quite as scathingly good as the one here at the LA Weekly, which i advise you read as everything it says is true. Darren Aronofsky’s new film, The Fountain was an abomination to the likes of which I haven‘t seen in awhile. I knew within the first minutes of the film that it was bad and I was ready to walk out at least 15 times but I decided to stick through it as I never walk out of films. The review I linked covers a lot of what I feel about the film but there are a couple of things I would like to mention.

There is a scene in which Hugh Jackman’s shadow is practicing karate in front of the stars in space... yeah that good. Also I have never felt more claustrophobic watching a film. Every shot seemed to be some insanely close close-up of Hugh Jackman or whoever was in the frame. Near the end of the film there is this ridiculous scene in which Hugh Jackman turns into the tree of life… yeah, you read that right, and someone out loud in the theater said “ I didn’t know this was a comedy” And it’s far from it. Among many of the film's glaringly obvious problems, the biggest one is how earnestly serious the film takes itself, never taking a step back to realize how god awful it is.

I really have trouble understanding how someone can go from amazing to atrocious so quickly. Pi is fine, the acting wasn’t much to write home about but it was interesting and done extremely well especially with the budget in mind. Requiem for a Dream though was brilliant. Not only was it extremely technically innovative, being composed with over 2000 cuts, using various technical gimmicks and succeeding, it was one of the most harrowing film experiences I had ever had (although a few years later Irreversible definitely beat it out as I had trouble looking at the screen half the time). After my friend Gady and I saw the film we were so depressed and we tried to go out and have a good time but it was impossible. I thought I would never be able to watch it again but I have seen it at least 5 times since and everytime the ending grabs you by the balls (or vagina) and never lets go. And then The Fountain... Brad Pitt made the best decision of his life backing out of this film. This is not a film that is some sort of misunderstood movie that will become a cult classic, because it's just flat out bad. I wonder if Southland Tales is this bad?

Donahoo's Fried Chicken - Pomona, CA

This one cracks me up. I stole this photo from a blog that looks suspisously like mine, Studio 67 which has some good pictures. I just visted that Rod's place which is shown on that site and took a photo. Actually Rod's is in the middle of a pretty contentious preservation battle as they are trying to tear it down, you can read more about that here although I might end up doing a little write up on it. I have not been to this establishment although I do want to get to Pomona still so now I have to make the trip, for obvious reasons (if it's not obvious my last name is Donohue, although establishment is closer to the Phil Donahue, of the Phil Donahue show, spelling.)

FUCK YOU

Is nothing sacred? After my little write up about my two free and lovely dinners to Trader Vic's at the Beverly Hills Hilton I came across this upsetting piece of news in the L.A. Busines Journal:

"Trader Vic's Threatened
We've been hearing rumours and bits and pieces of this news for a couple years - It's now become official. A local developer is planning to demolish Trader Vic's, along with the Beverly Hills Hilton's executive conference center, Oasis Court, and the 514-space parking garage. The recently remodeled landmark 1950s hotel would remain.

The owner of the Beverly Hilton is planning to bulldoze parts the famed hotel to make way for luxury residences, according to a report obtained by the Business Journal.

Packard Bell co-founder Beny Alagem, who paid $130 million for the 569-room hotel two years ago from entertainment mogul Merv Griffin, wants to knock-down Trader Vic’s Restaurant and Bar, the executive conference center, the Oasis Court and the hotel’s 514-space parking garage.

On those sites Alagem would build two 13-story buildings containing 96 condominiums, a 104-unit, 15-story condo hotel and 96 hotel rooms in two 3-story structures. The hotel’s parking would be put underground and increased to 1,422 spaces, to meet Beverly Hills’ codes.

Though the main 353-room, 8-story tower designed by noted architect Welton Beckett would remain, the plans would result in a net reduction of 96 hotel rooms."

Vic's has been at that location for 51 years! This is another example of people having no sense of history. I am for progress but not when it ignores the past and tears down landmark institutions that become part of the fabric of a city. Tearing Vic's down just to build condos? It's really sad. The only good news is that the locals are not very happy with this decision so hopefully something can happen there. I am going to do everything I can. In the mean time, Packard Bell computers sucked and so does this plan. Fuck you Beny Alagem.

First Christian Church - Phoenix, AZ

This Frank Lloyd Wright church was built in 1973, about 14 years after his death. It can be located at 6750 N 7th Ave Phoenix, AZ. So if you are in the area or live there, might as well check it out. The cones and signs don't really compliment the architecture.

Never Get a Lawyer - Adventure at The Beverly Hills Hilton

My friend, we will call him B.A. (some may come to the conclusion that it stands for bad ass and in this circumstance it may well apply), was recently comped at The Beverly Hills Hilton for a weekend and asked for the company of The Itinerant to join him in enjoying the amenities of the establishment. I decided that, after a long deliberation, that I would accept his offer as I have been there only once before and it was to Trader Vic's not the hotel.

We first went to the bar at Circa 55 (first picture, what's with that guys shirt?), a psuedo-mid-century modern restaurant that is pool side at the hotel. We were greeted with complimentary (as if that mattered) "Circa-tinis" and continued to have various libations as well as delicious Ahi Tuna Sliders. Yum-yum. My favorite part was acting like a couple of hot shots when we were ordering and then giggling like school children when our servers would leave.

4 drinks into the evening we decided to crash an event being held at the hotel for an organization called Human Rights Watch. We entered the ballroom greeted with open arms. Open arms that were handing us books, tote bags, pens, cds, and other miscellaneous human rights paraphernalia. To put the icing on the cake we were given personal invites to a screening of the new poorly accented Leonardo Dicaprio film "The Blood Diamond" in which the Leo himself, Jennifer Connely, and the head of the WB will in attendance (I made my RSVP and the lady called me back to confirm that I will be attending Dec. 7th). After we grew bored with our gifts and human rights we headed over to our next free expensive endeavor.

Trader Vic's is the best. As shown in the pictures above B.A. got disappointed with me when I began to drink two delicious Vic's Cocktails at the same time. He accosted me and I could only find solace in delicious Polynesian libations. I would like to mention two things about the beverages there. First thing is they are all really fucking good but made with nothing but pure booze and may be poisonous. Secondly, I have a new goal which is to try every drink in the place. I think altogether I have tried about 10 different ones so far. My only disappointment is that some don't come in fun glasses. THEY SHOULD ALL COME IN FUN GLASSES! Makes no sense to have fun without a fun glass.

This is a place, although neither of us paid for it so I can't say it without a little smirk on my face, that is worth the ridiculous prices allotted to the menu items. We went again just this past Monday and enjoyed yet another ridiculously good meal. I think the BBQ Unagi and Avocado Roll might have been the most blissful sushi experience I have had since Irhoa's Spicy Yellowtail Roll. HOLY FUCKING SHIT! Is tastetastic a word? No? Fuck you! Then the Almond Duck in Plum Sauce was RIDICULOUS. It was like a crispy, then moist and tender duck... brownie... it basically was perfect.

There is a moral to this story. Don't get a lawyer ever. This is what is on your tab. My delicious meals. But if you do, I will thank you in advance.

Not Doing So Hot

I just want to relay this tid bit of information, and I quote:

"The Natural Resource Defense Council notes that the Model T (pictured above) got about 25 miles to the gallon when it started out [in 1908!]; in 2002, the fleet of American-made cars averaged 24.6 miles to the gallon"

Holy shit. That's the progress we have made ay? It's been about 100 years and it's still at the status quo. This is only one of the many annoying factors about car companies in the US. Electric Cars have existed since 1897 when the Pope Manufacturing Company made the Columbia Electric Phaeton, Mark III. In the 90s California forced car manufacturers to make electric cars. When car manufacturers were able to get around this they effectively took back all the Electric Cars they made and destroyed them. And don't get me started on the Pacific Electric Railway which was electric powered trolleys in the greater Los Angeles area that went from Downtown to Newport to Riverside to San Bernadino to Mount Wilson to Pacific Palisades and everything in between. GM along with the tire and oil companies created a front company that bought and subsequently dismantled the line. This was kind of what Who Framed Roger Rabbit? is based on, which is sort of the Chinatown of live action, cartoon, film noir, kids movies..

I mention this because we are either ignoring our history and our abilities to reap from past information or stifling progress. Almost every country in the world has higher MPG standards than ours, but we are supposed to be the best! That means that all the companies that make cars have the ability to raise the gas mileage, they just don't want to. That coupled with the fact that we are lagging scientifically, mainly because we have a President who isn't all that interested in science, and as a nation there is a distrust to science in the face of "magic" (religion).

The other viable option they are touting is Hydrogen, which anyone who knows anything about the technology knows that it is at least 15 years down the road as well as being more expensive and not very probable solution. It should be developed but it is being used as a distraction to things like electric cars or at least meeting the MPG standards of China or other developing nations and not be 100 years in the past might help me feel a little bit better about what is going on.

Wigwam Motel - Rialto, CA

Located in Rialto, CA off of the famous Route 66, this motel is one of three Tee-Pee motels that is operating today. One is in Holbrook, Arizona near the Petrified Forest and the other in Cave City, Kentucky (woo wee). I got these pics on the way to AZ but I really want to stay here for a night even though it isn't the most exciting of areas and isn't that far from home. That being said I wish they still had this lovely catch phrase on their sign, "Do it in a Tee-Pee." YES! Okay. You can still do it but they just don't encourage it anymore.

There is also an amazing Bowling sign next door which I am saving for my huge "Blowing Vernacular" post. The doors are slightly suggestive in my opinion which is maybe why they took down the old sign because maybe people where actually doing it with the Tee-Pee as oppossed to in.

Wigwam Motel Website - all kinds of info on the history and rates and reservations.

Top 40 Albums of the 90s (and the Top 11(?) EPs)

Every time a list for the best albums of a certain decade or an end of the year “best of” list, I am always up in arms over the results. There is generally always something I agree with but the rest of the time I am picking things apart and thinking about how many other records, films, or sandwiches would be better on the list than the ones picked. I seem to think I have such discerning and discretionary taste that I could make a list that is Holier than Thou. That being said there is one thing I noticed is that it isn’t as broad as I thought it would be. The 90s, unlike other periods of music was dominated strongly by what was then called “Alternative” music. Under this banner bands like Collective Soul, Ween, Nirvana, and Better than Ezra are considered part of a singular movement in a general sense. Although I grew up and my interest in music was formed during this period , as well as the fact many of my favorite albums ever come from this time, I realized my list does lack, to a certain degree, a broad sense of diversity and may be fairly redundant in some of the choices. Is it perfect? Well, no. For me this is the best I could do as I learned that list are almost impossible for me to make as I feel such a wide range of things for so many different records.

One thing this list is not is unbiased. These are the albums I feel are the best to my listening ear over that 10 year period. Are these the most defining records? Some unequivocally are that. Pavement’s Slanted and Enchanted, My Bloody Valentine’s Loveless, and Slint’s Spiderland each single handedly brought to fruition entire movements of music; Lo-Fi 4 track recordings, Shoegaze, and Post-Rock, respectively. Are these all the defining albums according to a broad spectrum of music? Absolutely not. Nirvana’s Nevermind, Radiohead’s OK Computer, Dr. Dre’s The Chronic, Public Enemy’s Fear of a Black Planet among others are examples of albums that define this period but do I listen to them? Eh.

The 90s was the decade of Alternative Rock, and it’s respective genres, and Rap and its. It’s easy to tell what camp I am in but my bias comes from a stronger interest in music in it’s production as opposed to lyric based songwriting. There is an interesting drop of point in 97-98 most of the great bands of the time had died out, sans the ones that were just getting their bearings, and a new form musical abomination was taking over the airwaves and dumbing down an entire generation of youths. Rap-rock and Boy-Band style pop music became the dominant sound and with it came a new generation of a music that was a reaction to what was the dark ages of music. This list I hope is something that you can at least understand, I am sad about the collateral damage that occured in the act of making a list like this (Bjork, Aerial M, Beastie Boys, Beck, For Carnation, Sam Prekop, Weezer Blue Album, Giant Sand, Heavy Vegetable and Thingy, David Grubbs, Lovechild, Mogwai, Boards of Canada, John Zorn, Pixies, Talk Talk, Notwist, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Ween, Fly Ashtray, Don Caballero, etc) but it came down to what I really listen to and respond to as a whole album. Most of these choices are deeply personal, some in ways, especially with Gastr Del Sol and Tortoise, are where they are at because of new sense of enlightenment they brought me to musically. Some of these like Polvo’s Today’s Active Lifestyles or Jim O’Rourke’s solo work, are criminally overlooked and I feel as though time will finally catch up with these albums if it hasn’t already. Hopefully…

That being said I will be making other list for the 80s, 70s, 60s, and from 2000-06 as I get to them. For now I give you my Top 40 Albums of the 90s and as well as the Top 11(?) EPs of the 90s. Enjoy.


1. Pavement - Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
2. Tortoise - Millions Now Living Will Never Die
3. Boredoms - Super Are
4. Flaming Lips - Zaireeka
5. Gastr Del Sol - Upgrade & Afterlife
6. DJ Shadow - …Entroducing
7. Guided by Voices - Bee Thousand
8. Polvo - Today’s Active Lifestyles
9. Slint - Spiderland
10. Modest Mouse - This is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About
11. Pavement - Slanted and Enchanted
12. Boredoms - Vision Creation Newsun
13. Flaming Lips - The Soft Bulletin
14. Built to Spill - Ultimate Alternative Wavers
15. Jim O’Rourke - Bad Timing
16. My Bloody Valentine - Loveless
17. Godspeed You Black Emperor! - F# A# Infinity
18. Sun City Girls - Torch of the Mystics
19. The KLF - Chill Out
20. Sonic Youth - Goo
21. Squarepusher - Music is Rotted One Note
22. Grifters - Crappin’ You Negative
23. Neutral Milk Hotel - In an Aeroplane Over the Sea
24. Tortoise - TNT
25. Pavement - Wowee Zowee
26. Gastr Del Sol - Camofleur
27. Faust - You Know Faust
28. Archers of Loaf - Icky Mettle
29. Chavez - Ride the Fader
30. Bugskull - Phantasies and Sensations
31. Mercury Rev - Yerself is Steam
32. Guided by Voices - Alien Lanes
33. Unrest - Imperial F.F.R.R.
34. Halo Benders - God Don’t Make No Junk
35. Silver Jews - American Water
36. Storm & Stress - S/T
37. Modest Mouse - Lonesome Crowded West
38. Built to Spill - Perfect From Now On
39. Brainiac - Hissing Prigs in Static Couture
40. Barry Black - Tragic Animal Kingdom


EPs:

1. Godspeed You Black Emperor! - Slow Riot For New Zero Kanada
2. Gastr Del Sol - Mirror Repair
3. Jim O’Rourke - Halfway to a Threeway
4. Thinking Fellers Union Local 282 - Admonishing the Bishops
5. Polvo - Celebrate the New Dark Age
6. Brainiac - Electro-Shock for President
7. The Sweet Things - Deliver
8. Pavement - Watery, Domestic
9. Helium - Pirate Prude
10. Slint - S/T
11. Modest Mouse - The Fruit That Ate Itself

Watts Tower

Los Angeles is home to an innumerable amount of monuments. Although not neglected this is probably the most rarely visited because of it's location, Watts home of the 1965's Watts Riots. Built by Simon Rodia, working solo, this Gaudi like piece of folk art was constructed with nothing but found objects. It is truly stunning in person even though it was fenced off (only open on the weekend, who knew).

Watts Tower is located on 1765 East 107th St. Los Angeles, CA

More info can be found here.

Phoenix Trotting Park: A Photo Essay

Since leaving Arizona in July of 2003 I have made the trek back and forth for holidays and various reasons. Every time I have made the drive I also notice, off the I-10 near Goodyear an amazing horse track about 20 miles on the outskirts of Phoenix. It's the first building other than Snyder's Pretzel's that tells me I am almost done with the drive. Last time I took the drive, after three years of driving by the thing, I finally decided to pull over and see it for myself. I always thought it was interesting as a piece of abandoned architecture but over the years as my palate for architecture has developed I realized what a stunning piece of Mid-Century Modernism it really was.

I pulled up on a No Tresspassing dirt road and hopped the fence. The first structure I came across was the building with the folded plate roof. It overlooked where the track must have been but now a grouping of abandoned trailers. My thoery was this was for the press or for private members. The track itself, which I was later to learn as called Phoenix Trotting Park, was a wonder in poured concrete and space age design. I entered the building and began walking up a long flight of stairs, I think I went up about six stories before I got too freaked out for my safety being alone as I was. With all the really tough Cypress Hill graffiti I didn't want to encounter some gang initiation or a scene out of The Birds. Many of the structual elements remain intact but almost everything apart from that is either destroyed or covered in bird shit.

I did some research and this is a compilation of the the information (word) I have found:

"The Phoenix Trotting Park, a horse racing track, was originally built in 1964 in Goodyear, Arizona. It opened in 1965 and was run for about two and a half seasons. The large, futuristically designed structure gave an optimistic look for the 1960s. It was originally supposed to be built for $3 million, but after Italian architects and contractors were brought in it wound up closer to $10 million, essentially bankrupting its builder, James Dunnigan, who had operated Buffalo Raceway. It was built of reinforced concrete, and could have withstood a direct hit by a hydrogen bomb... It is still standing, and some future travelers from space probably will regard it in the same way Stonehenge in Britain is regarded today... a monument built in the desert by sun worshipers. Sad story from start to finish." -Stan Bergstein

In 1998, movie crews chose the site to film an explosion for the movie "No Code of Conduct." No Code of Conduct is an action film involving cops and drug dealers. American Humane Association had been informed by production that there were no animals being used in the filming. Therefore, AHA was not on set and was not involved in the monitoring of any animals involved in the production.

The script called for the explosion of a drug warehouse at the end of the film and production chose to use an abandoned building at Phoenix Trotting Park in Goodyear, AZ. During the filming of the special effects explosion, hundreds of birds that were indigenous to the location were injured and killed. Although AHA was told by a production spokesperson that the company had attempted to clear the area and the building of the birds, there were several hundred birds still in the building at the time the explosives were detonated. According to a media source at the time of the incident, a representative from Arizona Department of Fish and Game approved the explosion. -ahafilm.info

Burbank Through a Hole in the Poll

Took this while hiking through Griffith Park

John Stossel's Freeloaders: Creating a Dependency System 20/20

Save your change. There will always be exceptions to the rule, as is shown by the guy who shows up for work, but this is the reality of it. Living in Los Angeles, it's easy to see how the dependency system helps enable an area like the Skid Row to thrive in the most negative ways possible.

John Stossel's Stupid in America for 20/20

Those of you who are not familiar with John Stossel's reporting need to get with it.

I am the most manly man ever. Tough. Total MAN.

People who know me or meet me are always like, How are you so manly? First of all it's testosterone, judging by the amount of body hair I have, I got a lot of it. Secondly, it's my ability to kick serious ass. I never back down, I don''t let foolish things like reason or communication get in the way of looking way tough to people by beating them up because that solves problems. Physical Violence works and when you are a super tough man you look cool and hot to ladies that have very sordid past.

When you see me walking down the street, you will say to yourself "Don't fuck with that guy, he looks like a killer." When I look in the mirror that's what I say. I put on my Chuck Norris action jeans (shown above) and shave "Watch out" into my chest and repeat my mantra "Man equals You." That being said I have to admit something to you. I wasn't born this manly, I learned from the master of intelligent fighting techniques, Bas Rutten. You have to have a hero and an idol, and although I promise to limit showing things you can find on other web sites like silly... I mean tough bad ass videos like this one, I want to reveal myself to you as I know you are wondering, how did Phil get so f'ing tough. Here is your answer - Okay i'm sorry bang bang no I'm not.

BAS RUTTEN IS DANGEROUS

Johnnie's Broiler

This is the site of Johnnie's Broiler located in Downey, CA. This icon of the 50's Drive in's, as well as a location in numerous films (scroll down) , is now a lovely car dealership. At least they have kept the signs and structure. More info and pictures of it in it's heyday can be found here.

The Getty Villa

After months of the free advance timed tickets being sold out, I was finally able to go to The Getty Villa. It's been closed for years and I am not completely keen on how much was improved upon with the renovation, but as you could see it is rather stunning. I must admit a bias though as I am not really blown away by Roman era scupltures and what have you but the presentation and the lay out of the place was really amazing.

I did learn something extremely interesting though. In Roman times they had plays called Phlyax Plays, "...These plays were popular in the 300s and 200s B.C. in the Greek colonies in Italy. The term phlyax probably derives from the Greek verb "to swell" and finds its meaning in the actor's costume of a mask, tights, a padded tunic, and a large artificial phallus." Yes you are reading that right, part of their costume in these plays was having a gigatic penis, that's funny.

They Getty Villa was beautiful though, and the food was pleasantly suprising in how good it was, I recommend the pizza if you go. They have amazing views and even an herb garden. Ooo. Michael Simpson (star of Behind Enemy Lines 2 and The OC who will soon be starring in Phil Donohue's stunning feature film Venice) and his father accompanied me to the villa.

His father relayed maybe one the funniest thing I have ever heard. Talking about vaginas for some reason... he mentioned that a shaved vagina has "Lips that hang down like a blacksmith's apron". See a blacksmith works on steal. heating it and bending it, and at the end of the day, his work apron gets really heavy. Oh lord that's funny.

Later in the evening we sat on the boardwalk in Venice where our ears here talked off by the screenwriter of Hackers who wants to put Michael's dad in his new film. Then we went to Houston's in Santa Monica. I would be hard pressed to find a better restaurant than Houston's. Even the fact that it is a huge chain does not diminsh the quality of the food in the slightest. Is there anything better than the Spinach and Artichoke dip or the Prime Rib French Dip (contender for best sandwich of all time (fuck you Michael!))? I think not. That being said it was a lovely day. Check out The Villa, you finally can now.

More information of the The Getty Villa and the Getty Center in Brentwood can be found at www.getty.edu

Phoenix from the Air

Surprised these even came out, you can see your house from here.

The Roadside Signs of Tucson

As you may or not know, there isn't a hell of a lot to do it Tucson. Go to 4th ave. Check. Foothills, sleepy. Check. Um, the mall. Check. Apart from the fact that Tucson has probably the best Mexican food on earth, namely El Charro, Mi Nidtio (without any doubt the best margarita in existence and Bill Clinton ate there!), and Cafe Poca Cosa (menu changes twice a day!) it is pretty spare on things to do. Luckily I have been down there with my woman as well as being there during the TV on the Radio concert, the AIA Architecture Home Tour, Asobi Seksu concert (Jared Bell's fantastic band Lymbyc System opened up for them. Check 'em out.) Apart from that, we couldn't find much else to do and we really did try. I think we have been over every inch of the city, going insofar as to drive to Bisbee (which is truly one the most interesting places to visit in AZ but that is for some other time.) Not to mention that while being in Tucson I witnessed my first person who had been shot, laying on the ground in front of a liquor store, which was not a very pleasant experience to put it lightly.

That being said there is one thing Tucson does have and that is potential. There are not many places left that have these relics of America's roadside culture. The signs above were meant to lure travelers in from the road trips which accelerated after 1956's National System of Interstate and Defense Highways Act was passed and people all over the country were hitting the road. This also took away business from places that were no longer visible from the new highways. The signs represent a bygone era but are also made with great care and art, something lacking from almost all signs today. For example my favorite photo above is the Tucson Inn, which is not only bold but fun to look at and shows that flare and design are missing in the signs o' the times (like Prince).

When I was taking the photo of the Arizonan sign an old man was sitting on his porch. I got out to take the photo and he yelled at me, “ What are you doing there?” I replied that I was just taking a picture of the sign. “What for?” Again me being horrible at small talk I said something to the affect of, Oh just for fun. “Fun? Doesn’t sound like fun to me.”

Most of these are found around Stone, Main, or Oracle which used to be some of the main roads coming into Tucson even before the highways were built. I would hope that the artistic or architectural community in Tucson would pay more attention to what is around them. The big danger to Tucson is the Rio Nuevo. Although there have been great preservations like the Fox and Hotel Congress downtown, the Rio Nuevo is an attempt to make Tucson another gentrified Scottsdale or any other place in this country. The focus should be on what is already there and how to make that better, I am not against the development but there is so much classic and under appreciated architecture and signage in Tucson that it would be a shame just to build without incorporating it into the landscape. Each generation should be preserved for what it represents, we are a nation of false progress and in an era of hit and run developments we should collectively realize that the United States is one of those rare places that does not care about its History and we have to fight to preserve important history in the face of developers and businesses with Government subsides.

There are a lot a nice things around if you took the time to look.