Feeding the Imagination...

Although we don't normally like to write about Echo Park because it is not part of what we consider the eastside, we still love it and love what they are doing there! We have encountered a super positive spot that encourages kids to write in an after school program housed behind the Time Travel Mart on Sunset. This is one of many spots all over the United States that foster imagination and creativity in their neighborhood kids. It was spawned first in San Francisco by writer Dave Eggers and now has popped up in Los Angeles, New York and other cities. Although the store fronts are really just "fronts" for the real work going on in the back, the stores are fun for browsing. At the Time Travel Mart, you can purchase not only quirky items such as mustaches through the ages, but also the writings of the students that attend the program! For a more in depth explanation of the project check out Dave Eggers on TED.com. Thanks for the pic Gabe!

Secret Dream

My Secret Dream.........

Is to be an .........

Artistic Director on a Ellen Von Unwerth Shoot

Icon

Nostalgia ....

My first album was "Madonna" I can remember asking my mom over and over again to play the record again. I lived Madonna after that! I had every color lace glove imaginable, rubber bracelets, and leggings. I was Madonna every chance I could get. I accessorized to the best of my abilities but school's with dress codes don't appreciate any sort of personal fashion expression. I follow Madonna's fashion trends and music till this day. I'm amazed how she is able to start such amazing trends that reference back to the day she started. My favorite Madonna era will always be the start of Madonna!

Zara Summer 2010, The Young Catalogue

I love fashion, the 80's, and a beautiful man ........ I think Zara did a fabulous job on all three!

NICHOLAS KIRKWOOD FOR RODARTE FALL/WINTER 2010/11//

These shoes are amazing and so is RODARTE !!!!!!

Getting Versed on the Eastside DJ scene

The randomest encounters are the best! At the closing of the Giant Robot show at the Japanese museum I met Juan Devis, who introduced me to the great Web Stories series on KCET.org. Back in 2008 (yes, I know I am late to this), he and his crew produced some great short videos on backyard parties and the dj culture that happened in the Eastside. They have people talk about what it was like being part of that scene, from the 70s to now. Check out the 80s one especially, you will hear the beginnings of the Power 106 dj's in the Origins segment, and you can see El Sereno in the background in Flat Tops & the Promoters. They also have mixtapes for each year! I couldn't stop smiling, it can really take you back, and it provides you with some essential history on the Southern California music scene.
http://kcet.org/explore-ca/web-stories/backyardparties/

Impressed by the Homegirls

I was aware of the Homeboy Industries, but never fully appreciated the organization until I went to Homegirl Cafe on Alameda with my friend Sandra. Father Greg and his Homeboy Industries have created alternatives for gangsters that have served time and want to leave the lifestyle. Father Greg has offered them a choice. And between jobs or jail, many ex-gangsters have chosen jobs. Embracing even the newest opportunities, Homeboy industries now offers training in installing solar panels! With the Homeboy Silkscreen, Homegirl cafe, Homeboy Bakery, Homeboy Maintenance, it's no doubt inspiring not only in a social level, but also on an entrepreneurial level. Check out their history and their future plans for this continual project on Homeboy-Industries.org.
Did I forget to mention that the food was amazing? Thanks for the pic Sandra!

Hopeful and Inspired in 2010

I have to agree with Melissa, there are many opportunities out there and it's about not giving up the fight! Unfortunately, I also have felt the weight of the economic situation, and have had to get re-invigorated into living in the moment. One of the local stories that inspired me at the end of 2009 was the El Sereno struggle to save Elephant Hill. My family's home neighbors this landscape, and I was seeing the real threat of development looming. This time, after a 25 year old struggle, the city came through! In November, the Los Angeles city council voted to buy this land that will be transformed into a nature preserve. What was going to be a 56 lot development is now going to be a park! After seeing the struggle of the South Central Farmers, it was exciting to see something unravel positively for the community. The locals also know this place as the Heavens, so perhaps we had a little more than the usual help...

The Fanny Pack I would wear!

One of my favorite designers, Marc Jacobs, has a Fanny Pack in his Marc Jacobs bag collection. I am always on the fence about fanny packs. I love the concept a purse worn on the waist, a much easier task to carry than on the shoulder. When I think of fanny pack, I think of Venice beach, tan blond hair, white bikini women on roller skates wearing a neon fanny pack while listening to there walk mans. Not the most flattering association to a bag the can be really awesome. I trust fully in Marc Jacobs and his obvious divine taste, so when word spread about his 3 fanny packs in this collection I was intrigued to see how he designed the info mas waist purse. I was pleasantly but not surprised when I viewed them. So simple and quaint as well as true to the original design. I couldn't expect less from such a divine artist.

2010 Trend will social media take a backstep???

Today, I have picked up my Image section of The Los Angeles Times and read the trend forecasts for the next decade. One of the trends predicted is networking on line via facebook, myspace, twitter will all come "tumbling down" according to Richard Laemer a trend forecaster. Richard predicts that we will all come to a realization that all this tweeting and facebooking did not profit us one bit. He say's we are going to get back to talking on the phone and meeting for coffee. Making connections in "real life" not virtual world.

Well, I personally love the best of both worlds. I don't see why we have to give up one for another. I have connected with junior high friends to relatives that live outside of the country via facebook. It may have not landed a job for me but as a connection resource I feel it has been highly effective. Talking on the phone is not my favorite I personally like texting. On the other hand I do like getting together with friends and meeting in person. Making connections without social networking seems to be harder these days. Whenever I'm trying to find someone I look on facebook first.

Thoughts?????

2009

It was a year of extreme hardship, extreme epiphany's , and finding rare opportunities in unexpected situations and relationships. I know for many 2009 wasn't the best year to date. I can only reflect on the life lessons I have learned in the economic depression.
Life lesson 1 - there are many hidden opportunities in unexpected places the key is to be open minded and creative.
Life lesson 2 - never never never never give up....... Even when you feel like you have nothing left to give find that one spec of courage with in your self to follow your dream!!!
Life lesson 3 - learn patience!!! I am the queen of ideas as well as the queen of inpatient. If an idea takes to long to show results I want to 86 it and move on!!!! BIG MISTAKE!!!!!! I have learned to take a deep breath and let the idea marinate and take it's coarse.
Life lesson 4 - STOP LISTING ALL THE REASONS WHY SOMETHING WON'T WORK AND MAKE IT HAPPEN!!!!
Life lesson 5 - Always look to the positive and never the negative. Reflect on what you do have and not what you don't!!!!

The last thing I want to share is a quote from Mister Rogers... " Some days, doing "the best we can" may fall short of what we would like to be able to do, but life isn't perfect- on any front- and doing what we can with what we have is the most we should expect of ourselves or anyone else."

Happy 2010 Everyone!!!!

Small Businesses is it a dying breed?????

I hope the day never comes when we are over run by big chain department stores. I was at a city meeting and the city manager is trying to revitalize the city by bringing in big chain discount department stores. Ok this city already has a Kholes and a Ross why do they need two more????? This was my question to him and his answer "to attract people to the city". I asked him "why can't we attract small businesses"? His response "small business are a dying breed." At that moment I was saddened. I did express my deep heart ache and half of me agreed and the other half is still a believer of the entrepreneurial dreamer. The argumentative fighter I am asked if he would reconsider his decision and look to allowing small businesses to come to the city he agreed. So now here I am trying to attract entrepreneurial dreamers to open shop in this undesirable economic crunch that were in. I am believer that small businesses can thrive. I am saddened to think of the day when personal customer service is out the door and we're left with a cold miserable sales people to help us. Vision is my favorite thing to see carried out in a small business and to here it from the owner of why they started the business is "The American Dream" come to a reality!

The King of Halloween

Some may say that this statement is bold, and especially since we are quickly coming upon Christmas, but it needs to be out there that artist Albert Reyes really does come close it and he does it all in El Sereno. Every year, besides having an annual party that includes live acts, he builds a haunted house in his backyard. And, every year the project has grown. Initially we had to crawl through the maze, which was no easy task in our costumes. In 2009, it became a full walk-through maze with a watchtower. This creative venture takes at least 5 months, but right after Halloween it comes down in a day. It is an artistic tradition that is truly a labor of love. And for those of us that hold Halloween as our favorite holiday, we can't wait to see what the next edition holds!

Ego

Hey everyone....
OK. today I need to get something off my chest. "EGO." Let me tell you about an incident that happened. Angie and I met at a new beer bar (in a neighborhood trying to become exciting) for a meeting. I loved the atmosphere! Now, I am an active member in the chamber that this bar resides in and I approached the owner about having a beer fest at his bar in October. He said yes politely and said he is planning to have an event in October and invited us to co host it with him. GREAT RIGHT???? Now here comes the EGO part. When I asked him if we can meet next week on a specific day and time, he said yes as of now but call him on Mon. because he is "really busy and might have to cancel due to his hectic schedule." I then asked him if we can just secure the Wednesday date and time. He said no because if anything comes up he would have to cancel but at that moment he had nothing scheduled which leads me to believe that I was not important enough to schedule a secure appointment.

Now, why would someone do this? Was he trying to say he is too important for the city and for me? Was he also trying to say he was busier than me? I think it was his EGO and not his brain talking. After this conversation I asked him how business was going and he said "great he is thinking of opening another bar". I think it's fabulous he's doing so well but don't ever let your EGO get in the way of making a new connection. If we are in business no matter how big or small we are always trying to bring in revenue and make new connections. To all my entrepreneurs out there never let your EGO come in the way of making a new relationship. You never know where that connection will lead. We aren't in business to be a "SNOB" we are in business to bring a great idea, product, or service to the public. Let's remember that we are in the business of people not our EGO!!!!

What's uh Happenin', Hot Stuff?

I can't help but feel sad that John Hughes has died. With classics as Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, and Ferris Bueller's Day Off, he defined the 80s for many of us, not to mention launched the careers for many young actors! John Hughes' movies are timeless, and still continue to provide support for the angst ridden lives of young people. They share those feelings of isolation that characterize the teenage years, while showing us the humor that can be found in them. His movies also prove to be a historic log of the fashion of the eighties; a fashion statement that has been recycled these last couple of years. I personally love his movies and can watch them over and over. One quote from Ferris Bueller's Day Off has especially influenced my life and seems even more relevant today than ever, "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." Thank you, John Hughes...

Gentrification

So, Angie has been blogging and has done a fabulous job!! It's my turn to contribute!! I have chosen to write about a subject that I'm on the fence about! "GENTRIFICATION" is it good or is it bad?????? Well, here are my thoughts...... I love neighborhoods that have massive amounts of potential and are riddled with low income families. I see opportunity!!! Now I know so do many others (like developers) but the difference is I see an opportunity for great entrepreneurs to thrive and prosper. Cheap rent means more money on marketing,inventory, and labor (also maybe security) RENT IS A BITCH!!! RENT ALONE WILL BANKRUPT YOUR BUSINESS!!! In this economy it's common. In my opinion it's not about location it's about creativity and passion if you have a great store or product people will go to you no matter where you are located (remember Field of Dreams "build it and they will come")

Now as you all know I live in a north east Los Angeles town named El Sereno home to the famous Charlies Trio and Troys Burgers. On Huntington Drive a developer built a brand new shopping mall that currently houses a Subway and nothing else. Come on, we can be creative...a coffee/tea shop would do fabulous in this center, a wine bar etc.. Why aren't people taking that entrepreneurial leap and just going for it? Now is the time to wheel and deal make ugly fashionably depressed neighborhood's better, not trendy, "better"!!!
One city I love that is going thru some gentrifying is Highland Park. My family has lived there for years. My mom and aunts went to elementary, junior high as well as high school. They witnessed the remains of "The White Flight". Highland Park has beautiful Victorian and Craftsman designed homes rich in architectural history. On York boulevard a few businesses have opened up that are not 99cent stores or liquor stores. These are actually real entrepreneurs trying to accomplish their dream and saw potential in this economically depressed neighborhood. Cudos to them. They are the pioneers that will restore this town to it's original glory. I am so in love with towns that have small busineses when you actually are able to go into the store get one on one service with the owner and really get on a personal level. Don't get me wrong, I love the Big Chains but there is nothing like personal service and having a personal connection to a store you love.

The Cross of LaCroix

The couture shows for Fall 2009/2010 have come and gone. And, unfortunately, daily life and it's current struggles have kept me from commenting. But, there is one blog that cannot be ignored, and that is on what is probably the final haute couture collection for Christian Lacroix. His company's own financial woes had forced his investors to file bankruptcy protection back in May. He, lucky for us, persevered in presenting his Fall collection. Despite being more restrained than usual, it displayed his talent of finding beauty in the form and detailing. The collection embodied the sophistication and elegance that is Christian Lacroix. Hopefully it won't be the last we see of his designs, because the fashion world will surely be at a loss.

El Sereno Community Garden

Our little neighborhood is making it's mark on the Green Map! Thanks to Marie Salas, the garden's manager, and her gardening friends, that have made our community garden a place of growth, both in the creative and the green sense. El Sereno benefits highly from this meeting place. Not only do they plant all kinds of healthy eats, but they share knowledge and earth wisdom which is easily forgotten in the concrete jungles most of us inhabit today. The garden makes a clear difference in our neighborhood, but it is now being recognized by the American Community Gardening Association. They have been invited to participate in the 30th Annual Conference in Columbus Ohio on August 6th-9th, 2009. An El Sereno Community Garden member will fly over, accompanied by the LA Conservation Corp and the Los Angeles Community Garden Council, to represent our small oasis. We can't help but be so proud of the local gardeners and this accomplishment!

There's No Place like Home...

Grey Gardens is definitely an "acquired taste," but once you get past the first shocking sip you are left with something which is purely vintage. It took me two doses, the documentary and then the HBO movie to confirm, to myself, that I am a true fan of the two Edies. Both films show the complex relationship of a mother and daughter in their co-dependency, but more so, how social class and traditions can thwart dreams. Despite their eccentricity, or perhaps because of it, the two women easily captivate the audience. They confidently tell their story, while their home decays behind them. Perhaps the house is a reflection of their dying dreams; regardless, they have a joie de vivre that is infectious. My favorite line is when Little Edie states how "the relatives didn't know that they were dealing with a staunch character," while her accent cements the point. A true fashion original; she continually reinterprets her wardrobe. She even dresses up the plain towel on her head with a magnificent broach! No doubt both the mother and daughter are performers. It is only natural that they finally have their moment to shine, even if they are considered the "black sheep" on the Bouvier family tree.

Enchanted

Nothing has captured my fashion and art sensibilities like Lula magazine. Printed in the UK, these highly collectible fashion issues provide the deepest satisfaction to dreamers worldwide. A cross between M83 and the Virgin Suicides, the magazine paints a watercolor picture of beauty. That beauty is found in the details...its pages are heavy weight, its fonts have a scripted feel, its art direction is playful and attractive. Although most of the time I am somewhat of a tomboy, who is very much into the urban market, I can't help but be entranced by the delicately lit photo shoots and the dresses galore. Lula is transcendentally feminine, touching on past ages while including the modern celebrity. Plus, now that media is finding its new home on the web, it's good to see that some of us that love the printed page can still satisfy that dream. Angie