Art Under the Bridge Festival Sept. 29th 2007

Another DUMBO event another good party!

Cross Country Road Trip 2007

Match It!

Pictures to come...


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Ducks vs Fresno St at Autzen Stadium

Ducks Fresno State

52-21 Ducks!!!

Goodbye Silver Lake

Silver Lake

It was an easy decision to call Silver Lake my new home in LA. Aside from Kris that lives here and that my new place would be seconds away from Sunset Junction, there are several other reasons why Silver Lake beats out the competition. Which makes it all that more difficult to leave.
First off.. its has to be the people! yes I'm saying that the people of Silver Lake represent a strong enough reason to believe that the world will be a better place because of them. Forget about Hollywood and the majority of people that move to LA for a minute... Siver Lake represents a good proportion of people that strive for a better lifestyle and community. For that have a seat at Stella, enjoy a good glass of wine and don't be afraid of talking politics or current events with Dustin or Eva at the bar. The Lovecraft has been there for a while now transforming Diesel cars into Veggie Oil and bio diesel engines...
Then there is the reservoir, the venues and the nightlife: Spaceland, where names like Beck kicked off their careers. The 4100 and it's cozy Moroccan style lounge; best during weekdays, or Tiki Ti if you like cramped spaces. Hit up Red Lion Tavern for some German fare and Silver Lake Lounge for happy hour. Make sure to stop by Good Luck bar and find yourself transplanted to a speakeasy in the middle of China..
The architecture: Represented by its beautiful homes that adorn the reservoir and some of the hills of Silver Lake. Keep an eye out for homes designed by Eric Lloyd Wright and Charles F. Whittlesey inspired by Antoni Gaudi on Loma Vista
The eats: From Stella to Aroma and Cliff's Edge. Some of my favorites like Malo and its habanero salsa,7 Mares ceviche, Pho cafe if you dig Vietnamese soups, Ginergrass cafe for a more standard Vietnamese fare, and the Coffee Table for a delicious turkey burger. Casbah Cafe which offers great decor and a fare of light dishes and delicious coffee. The newly opened Intelligencia that delivers on clean decor and fresh coffee. Or if your in the need for a quick and cheap breakfast, stop by Back Door Bakery on Silverlake Blvd. For more check out my map link with my favorite spots!
Goodbye for now Silver Lake.. but I will be back!

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Night Photography

Night Photography

Check out some of my night shots over the past few years...

Oregon Ducks 2-0

What was expected to be a tough road game for the Oregon Ducks turned into an embarrassing defeat of the Michigan Wolverines. I couldn't believe it, as the ducks were hitting on all cylinders. The Ducks were led by backfield weapons Dennis Dixon, Jonathan Stewart, and Jeremiah Johnson, who combined for 568 total yards. QB Dixon notched 368 total yards and four touchdowns. The only time the Ducks didn't score in the first half was when they missed a field goal near the end of the first quarter. Go Ducks!

Inspiration

"The only dream worth having is to dream that you will live while you are alive, and die only when you are dead. To love, to be loved. To never forget your own insignificance. To never get used to the unspeakable violence and vulgar disparity of the life around you. To seek joy in the saddest places. To pursue beauty to its lair. To never simplify what is complicated or complicate what is simple. To respect strength, never power. Above all to watch. To try and understand. To never look away. And never, never to forget."
--Arundhati Roy (Indian female novelist, writer and activist)

San Francisco

It has been a long time coming to get myself up to SF and it finally happened last week. As far as California goes, SF wins. From the sights, to the neighborhoods, to the restaurants and lifestyle boutiques to its people and the fact that you can walk around all day, SF is the city to beat in Cali.
I'd like to thank our hosts, Shelna, Jason and Kayla for their extremely kind generosity and for opening their house, as well as all the good times we shared. Ainge good looking out for making the trip happen! Joogs, thanks for dinner in Napa.
The rest can be seen in the pics.

Goodbye Jet Blue, Hello Virgin America

Richard Bransons' new Airline Virgin America launched earlier this month and for my upcoming trip to San Francisco it worked out perfectly. $88 round trip..thats what I'm talking about. Imagine if mac put out planes, this is what it would look like. Cool lighting, great entertainment, comfy seats and there even was tech support on board.

Barakomania

Please click Rory's fundraiser link! to help fight for the leader we need in 2008!
Also check out this video from Barack's tour in Brooklyn NY.
for more questions email Rory directly!
Thanks

Screenings

So I was invited to yet another screening and caught 2 films
1. Feast Of Love by Robert Benton with Greg kinnear and Morgan Freeman. Not so good. A meditation on love and its various incarnations, set within a community of friends in Oregon. and is described as an exploration of the magical, mysterious and sometimes painful incarnations of love.

2. Eastern Promises by David Cronenberg. Highly recommend it especially if you're a fan of his films (The Fly, 1996's Crash, Naked Lunch, History of Violence). The film follows the mysterious and ruthless Nikolai (Viggo Mortensen), who is tied to one of London's most notorious organized crime families. His carefully maintained existence is jarred when he crosses paths with Anna (Naomi Watts), an innocent midwife trying to right a wrong, who accidentally uncovers potential evidence against the family. Now Nikolai must put into motion a harrowing chain of murder, deceit, and retribution

Nossa and more @ Cinespace

Finally an overdue Welcome to DJ Sujinho in Los Angeles, las night at Cinespace with regulars Steve Aoki, Them Jeans, DJ Dan-O and special guest Uffie...

Beastie Boys at the Wiltern, Los Angeles

So the Beastie Boys came into town for a few shows including the Gala event last night at the Wiltern.. Krs and I scored some cheap tkts and it was an awesome show featuring some new tracks off The Mix Up as well as some old school tracks from back in the day! ..and it don't stop!

Setlist
Son of Neckbone
Suco de Tangerina
Live at PJ's
14th St. Break
Futterman's Rule
Remote Control
Time for Living
Pow
Lighten Up
Root Down & Get It
Electric Worm
In 3's
Egg Raid on Mojo
The Gala Event
Jimmy James
B for My Name
Song for the Man
Mark on the Bus
Shambala
Sabrosa
Tough Guy
Off the Grid
Ricky's Theme
Do It
Heart Attack Man
Gratitude
So What'cha Want
Sure Shot
3 MCs and 1 DJ
Sabotage

Sunset Junction 2007

Sunset Junction

Belt Night @ 205 club NYC

205 Club Contenders! Everyone wants a piece of the Champions belt.

Jamaica Time

Tricia and Mike's Wedding in Jamaica

Wedding and Birthday in Negril Jamaica! ya mon, much respect! Congrats to Mike and Tricia on pulling off an excellent weekend!

Oslo and Metal Skool @ Key Club

Metal Skool-Key Club

Paula's favorite band this month is Oslo and they are rockin the Key Club hours before the madness of Metal Skool..both worth the admission. check the pics and video below for the lead singer's fall.. classic!

MIA @ the Echoplex

Buttah's n Bangs hits another event at the Echoplex for M.I.A.'s Arular release party..

LA Galaxy-Chivas de Guadalajara

Chivas de Guadalajara come to town for the Superliga against LA Galaxy. unfortunately sans Beckham.. It felt like it was a Chivas home game anyways. Final 2-1 Chivas

Hammer Museum Concert

Hammer Museum-Seawolf Concert

indie 103.1 sponsors concert at the Hammer museum on Thursdays during the summer so I decided to check out Silver Lake's own SeaWolf and Midnight Movies.. The galleries are also worth the trip.

Daft Punk LA Sports Arena

Ali hooked me up with a last minute ticket to this grand event held at the Sports Arena, adjacent to the Coliseum. The show was incredible as they kept coming out with new lasers and visuals, let alone the music.. Vive Daft Punk!

Swimming with Sharks @ the Standard

The Standard Hotel downtown LA features a rooftop pool. Forecast calls for another beauty. I'm there!

AVP Pro Tour

AVP Pro Tour Long Beach

Another day off = another reason to hit the beach! Long Beach was featuring a Beach Volley Ball Tournament so why not!

BPM Party at The Avalon

It didn't take much for Mel E. Mel and I to make the call for a BPM Magazine party. On the schedule, Stretch Armstrong, DJ A-Trak, Moving Units and Girl talk.. what wasn't expected were the likes of Ron Jeremy, Azamat Bogatov from Borat, and Paris Hilton. Good times..

Girl talk closes the show

Hsi Lai Temple

Hsi Lai Temple

Feels like i was on the set of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon.. It's a beautiful Temple outside of LA in Hacienda Heights. Take the time and clear your mind!

Spoon @ Cinespace

Another Concert at cinespace, this time with SPOON headlining and of course DIM MAK on the 1's and 2's.

Adicup and Bastille day 2007

Adicup 2007- Bastille Day

Kwik E Mart

Kwick E Mart

The Simpsons hit the streets, or should I say the 7 Elevens around the country.. Here in LA they outfitted 2 locations with everything from exterior paint, signs, Simpsons toys and of course the oh so famous Squishee and donuts..

Mark of the Beast

Capitalist Globalization is no longer an evil threat, but a dark reality in the 21st century.

Multinational companies condition the consuming masses with lies, deception and manipulation in the forms of advertising tricks and fetishized logos.

These mega-corporations have infiltrated the world's governments, created legislation in their favor, and become global superpowers.

Today, this misappropriation of authority has dealt us states of international conflict, a plundering of nature and its resources, imbalances in the global economy, and a tangled web of disinformation.

MARK OF THE BEAST is a traveling art exhibit that serves as a conscious happening in each city it reaches, aimed directly at the issues of consumerism and alternative globalization.

Magic Cleaner

Check out this new Mr Clean product that has helped me clean my Black MacBook better than any other product. works for greasy fingerprints, and all kinds of scuff marks. Its got my stamp of approval.

Diplo @ The Echoplex

When Diplo comes to town, you know it's gonna be a good set. He did not fail and the show was dope. check out pics with Mel E. Mel and I

Buttah's n Bangs

Cinespace 6/5/07

Back in El Ley, its time to hit up some events..
Here Boom Bip and DIM MAK at Cinespace with my favorite wing girls Mel E. Mel and Adrienne.
Tacos at King Taco was a must prior to the event.

Bushwick Art Fest

Bushwick arts fest

Always time for a little art, especially in Brooklyn

Man-As-Brand: Luke Highfire by Jeff Gamble

In 1977, on the heals of a Candyland World Championships debacle that saw him knocked off the U.S. team by his own coach, Luke Highfire ceased to be Luke Highfire the person, and began his journey towards Luke Highfire the icon.
Profile Confidential: The Luke Highfire Story

Millenium Promise

Internet Porn by Good Magazine

Griffith Park Fire

So only a couple days after my official move to Silver Lake. I'm grabbing a bite to eat with Kris and Chip on Hillhurst Ave a couple blocks down from Griffith Park.. As we're seated for dinner, the fire that had begun a few hours before was, according to the local news, contained and out of danger for the local homes. Half way through our meal, the flames were now rolling up and over the hills of Griffith Park and the Fire Dept started evacuating the wealthy residents of the area. People started gathering on the streets and before long camera crews and local news stations were on the scene. At this point it seemed like several homes were going up in smoke and there was no stopping this raging fire now. To the total disbelief of many, the FD was able to contain the fire and save all the homes. In the end 800 hectares were burnt and the park was reduced ashes. Check out the pictures above.

Particle Productions

One of my first of few jobs here in LA was with Particle Production and Mike Mayer. It was a project for Instant Films where we needed to shoot and cut the film in 1 weekend. Thanks to Mike, I was able to hang with a good crew and meet good people through the experience.. Look out for his upcoming film The Graduation

Paris Je t'aime

Go check it out

Coachella 2007

Coachella 2007

Hands down the best concert event I've ever been to. From the bands to the Venue to the people Coachella had it all.. Once we figured out parking, we were golden. Just check the pics and buy your ticket for next year ASAP.

Pioneertown, CA

While visiting grandma in Rancho Mirage, Kris, Sarah and I decided to hit Old Pionnertown off of 29 Palms drive. Aside from the miniature western set, we rocked the local saloon, and dropped off a licence plate at Pappy & Harriette's.. Make sure to bring acid for the waitress, she was fiending

Winter in Oregon

Oregon Feb 07

Any chance I get to go up to Oregon, I take, and this trip couldn't have been at any better time.. Snowboarding time that is. So the weather in Portland is bad yet it didn't discourage me from hittin the town and the slopes up in Mt Hood. Gamshark hooked us up with a stay at the Silcox lodge 6000ft above sea level just above Timberline Lodge. The conditions weren't perfect but the powder was plenty and thats all that counts for me!
Did I mention how much I love Oregon!

Las Vegas

So while MAGIC is happeneing in Vegas I decided to hit the road again and meet up with Hakeem at the Venetian for a few days.. What was supposed to be 2-3 days turned into 5 days including the All Star NBA game, Air Force One party at Tao,and did I mention the free massages offered by the people at ROCKPORT..Party now, sleep later

Pebble Beach

Hardly settled at the maltman house, I get a call from Gamshark to hit up Pebble Beach for the Pro Am golf tournament coming up. "Hotel will be paid for, dinners should be as well, so all you need is to get your ass up here, and your CBS pass will be waiting " he told me. On top of that the drive would take me through Santa Barbara, Big Sur and Carmel.. hell yeah! So I'm back out hittin the road for another extended weekend in Monterrey. The Golf tournament didn't disappoint with Bill Murray hitting the course, not only is he a good golfer but the jokes were flowin.. He even stopped for some hula-hooping on the 4th hole. Ray Romano, Kevin James, Don Cheadle, Kevin Costner, Tom Brady and Emmitt Smith were all part of the outing. Although Emmitt was hitting more golf balls in the ocean than on the fairways. All in all another excellent weekend. Oh and did I mention the Monterrey aquarium, pretty dope stuff, if you've never seen a sun fish check out the pic!

Superbowl 2006.. in timelapse

More snowboarding.. this time is Cali

Upon arrival into the Long Beach Airport, I make a round of phone calls to my people out here in LA and get offered a trip up to June Mountain for an extended weekend; departure in 48hrs. Since I landed with nothing but winter clothes it was an easy call. Chuchie and I broke out late Friday night with a make shift picnic for the road. That is wine, cheese and crackers. The drive took us through the desert and star filled night to the small town of June Lake Village. At our arrival around 2am everyone in the house was passed yet we managed to score one of the few rooms while others crashed on the couches and floors. Although the snow wasn't at its best we managed to have a blast as Chuchie and I were schooling the college kids in the house about life experiences.. Drinks flowed and truth or dare didn't leave any rocks unturned.. Thanks to Susana for hookin this trip up!

The Maltman

Gotta give it up for Kris who put me up at the Maltman house as I decided to call Cali Home for a while..

Sundance 2007

Can you say last minute trip.. Well this years Sundance was exactly that. I made the call a few days ago while speaking with Hayes about it. Snowboarding, movies, and after parties, I'm all about it. So far it's lived up to the hype, the powder is fresh, the streets are bustling with filmmakers and wannabees, dinners have been generously offered by friends and acquaintances and the after parties are a nice mix of sloppy and glitzy. Hayes and his boys rented out a chalet not far from Main street where the Jacuzzi is kept at 105 degrees surrounded by fresh snow, which makes it an easy call for me since my Motel was located 25 minutes outside of Park City. Today, I've decided not to return back to NY and fly into LA for another round of meetings and whatever else the West coast can offer. Thanks Kris for accepting my request to crash at your pad.

Santa Con.. what???

So its that time of the year again.. and to change things up, i decided to check out this years Santa Con... a bar crawl around Manhattan with thousands of people dressed as Santa Clause.. and for those of the Jewish faith some Menorah Women, or Yammukah sporting clauses... Think that's weird check out the pics..

AFM

The American Film Market started this week in Santa Monica. I flew in for the 2nd week of the festival and met up with Steve so I can figure out how to get myself a job in the industry.. Without a pass to the upper floors of the hotel I was bound to the pool area and ground level. Not a bad place for some people watching especially here in LA and in the film industry..... One of my lunches at shutters was with David Carradine.. the guy was straight out of Kill Bill, Zen and composed as he told us a story about his latest feature. I ended up staying in for 3 1/2 weeks, meeting with VP's from Newline, to Spyglass to Warner and Lionsgate.. Still no job but building on knowledge of the industry.

Skyling Time lapse

Shot on Kerry's balcony in Paris 13th arrondissement.

City Year

So its been a few years now that I've been working with City Year through Timberland and I recently got the opportunity to speak at the opening day for City Year New York. What an honor, especially at City Hall in front of 300 people. I am an avid fan of theirs and believe that they continue to inspire our younger generation in doing good.
A raving fan.

Europe and more

So most of my summer of 06 was spent in France and Italy.. I just couldn't leave my job and not run home for a culture and culinary refill.. From the Paris night life and late night merguez to the most delicious pesto in Radda in Cianti, all was good. The trip to northern Italy was a reminder in how to enjoy life to the fullest. Incredible sights from Como to Bellagio, to the surreal city of Venice it only got better as friends met up for a birthday weekend in Florence and drive through Tuscany to the beautiful medieval city of Siena which comes alive for one of the world's most breathtaking folk festivals, Il Palio. Unfortunately we missed it by 48 hours.. Pisa wasn't all that but the fortified city of Luca is. the trip was not complete before a short stop in North Africa on the Island of Djerba Tunisia..

World Cup 2006

Waiting 4 years really sucks but its well worth it.
Can "les bleus" come back from a dismal performance in 2004

Regresar A Mexico

So another trip to Mexico had to be done and this time with a crew of friends.. Thanks again to Memo and Moni for drawing up one of the best trips ever.. From DF to Pie de la Cuesta (A must stop if in the Acapulco Area, forget the crowds and go chill out in this serene area). Onto Puerto Escondido for some surfin with the locals and Aussies. Further south we found our way to Zipolite for the best beach hammock in Mexico, ok so I passed out for an hour from the 2nd hand smoke. If you've got the stomach for it take the road up through the mountains to Oaxaca and spend a few nights there and check out the nearby ruins of Monte Alban. Did I mention the local delicious dishes of Mole and chapulines. From there we drove through Puebla and back to Mexico DF for some final tacos in Bosques de las Lomas Mall. Make sure to ask for Las Costras, the inventor of the delicious Costra tacos, estan padres!!!

Gospel Docmentary

Kila's comin to town this week to shoot a documentary about Gospel up in Harlem for KTO TV in France. keep an eye out for pics and videos

Killington

3 day weekend.. time to go hit the slopes in VT with Hakeem and Karen! good times

hakeem's 1st run

California Love

Time to hit the road again for New Years. LA, Joshua Tree, Racho Mirage, San Diego-Holiday Bowl-Ducks vs Oklahoma, Ocean beach..

15-30 PRODUCTIONS STIKES AGAIN

This time for the much anticipated LUKE HIGHFIRE PREMIERE in New York City at the FILM ACADEMY..

Profile Confidential: The Luke Highfire Story