Keb' Mo' in Hollywood - The Real Deal

I finally got to see Keb'Mo' play live last night at Ohm Nightclub (Hollywood and Highland) for a pre-Grammy party for the Whole Planet Foundation Benefit, helping people through global microlending programs. It was a great party, with a whole bunch of great performers (Rocky Dawuni- awesome, Magnolia Memoir, The Mariachi Divas, etal), but when Keb'Mo' played, it was REALLY something special. Playing a bunch of songs from his newest (and Grammy nominated) album BluesAmericana, he mesmerized the room.

It almost got the room to shut up for a performance even. Almost. He is just the real deal. So, so good, so so true, so so legit. I loved it. I also loved that it seemed like half the party was friends who had also made the trek from Venice.

A great night, for a great cause. The very best kind of outing.

*Many thanks to Clamorhouse for being our gracious hosts.

Monarch Manor

Sometimes when things happen that are a drag, it winds up being even better than what you set out for. Like on Saturday, when I was running late to meet my friend for lunch, and found that all the bikes were jacked up in different ways, so I was going to be even later on foot. But by being on foot, I explored the canals and walk streets that I don't normally take on wheels. I decided to take Pacific over to check out a vacation rental my friends have booked for Spring Break, and that's when I stumbled across Monarch Manor.

Monarch Manor is a way station for Monarch butterflies, kind of like a HoJo's rest stop for butterflies as they travel along their migratory routes. A group called "Voice Of The Canals" created this sanctuary as part of www.monarchwatch.org, and it's been there since 2008. I had no idea!

As our eco-system is more fragile all the time, it's important to have awareness and efforts made to help keep everything functioning and beautiful. Butterflies, like bees, are a crucial part of our natural world, so we need to give them all a helping hand like this. Monarch migration season is November through February, so we're winding down for this year, but as I walked down the wooden steps into the habitat, I was delighted to see a dancing pair of monarchs, flitting happily all over, almost too fast to capture, but I did at the top of the frame below.

Monarch caterpillars feed only on milkweed, so that is what is being served here off Pacific Ave. It was so lovely to discover this butterfly oasis right smack in the middle of the weekend hoopla of life at the beach in Venice. Standing in the middle of all the foliage and butterflies, one could be anywhere. Anywhere super gorgeous and eco-friendly, that is.

I love it when people see a need or a wish, come together with their various resources, and make things happen. I imagine this came about through someone reading an article about vanishing butterflies, thinking they could help, talking to their neighbors and friends, doing a little fundraising, getting together on a weekend day like this one to plant and dig, and then it's done and butterflies have a little Venice respite on their long trek back and forth to Mexico.

This community project example was to help the butterflies, but it could be anything. Little Free Libraries, a beautiful new mural, a community garden, a street dance, movies in a yard, beach clean-ups, picnics, outdoor concerts ... what can your neighborhood get together and do? Every time you sit around the yard shooting the breeze ... what fun thing can you create together to make this place even cooler? I'll look forward to discovering it - and bragging about you guys - soon.


*And yes, I was even later for lunch, but it was completely worth it.

The Art Of The Sunset

2015 has already been about the most spectacular year on record for sunsets. The SUNSETS we've seen! They've been so beautiful your heart could just about burst. But last night's might just have topped them all. (So far.)

The social media feeds immediately filled up with Los Angelenos all sharing in the same nature situation. One photo was more beautiful than the next. But nothing compared to the real thing. I saw photos from the art show at the Barker Hangar last night, and every person there said the sky was the best work they saw. Truth. And free for all to enjoy.

I just happened to go outside of the building where I'm currently working to take a call. I nearly dropped the phone when I saw the absolute majesty unfolding above me in the Western sky. I ran inside and made all my colleagues stop what they were doing and follow me to the park outside.

Even the most jaded and cynical among them (and in the entertainment biz, they are legion) stood there, jaws on the ground. No words were needed, it was enough to stand there and soak it all in.

When we did make noise, it was mostly to gasp, but then I had to say how lucky I felt just to feel this glow of the unreal and truly Heavenly light on me. My friend said, "I know! Look at our faces!" It was a real and beautiful moment of people (workaholics) stopping everything to collectively enjoy a rare (not really this year, but still!) moment of natural beauty.

When I lived in Hawai'i, every evening people would stop and gather for "Sunset Hour" instead of Happy Hour. It's a lovely custom, bringing people together to share the ridiculous splendor of the setting sun. No matter what's going on with you, you feel better when you see it. And you can't help but feel grateful, and then you're back on top of your game!

After the buzz of seeing last night's sunset, I aborted my plans to be out and about, and instead, went within. I went to the greatest restorative yoga class at Studio Surya (that I don't even want to tell you about so it doesn't get all packed, but here you go), basically a nap class, where you held stretch positions forever until you zenned out and nearly slept. That was easy to get into, because the class is held in the dark, all candle-lit and trance inducing music vibes. And aromatherapy. And blankets and eye pillows. And TOTAL zone out relaxation.

At class's end, the soothing instructor, Amy, told everyone to inhale what you want to carry inside you. Then exhale what you want to put out into the world.

For each breath, I chose that evening's sunset.

Smile

I noticed this great shirt by street artist Wrdsmth at the In Heroes We Trust party last week.

It's great because it's so true, and because it's so easy to do.

In a time when social media is making us all more anti-social. Seriously, People. Take a look around you at a show or restaurant or anywhere really, and look at all the droids smiling at their phones instead of the people around them. It's turning into Wall-E around here.

When you're pouring your heart out to someone and realize they haven't heard a word because they're so caught up in their phone, you realize just how detached from real life and real people we're all becoming. When you're at the show of a lifetime and you look around and see that almost everyone there is watching it through their screens instead of soaking up the feeling of rock and roll and freedom and gathering with like-minded cool people ... it's just sad.

I realize it's all here to stay - and most likely get worse - but just try to tear your eyes away from the screen a few times a day, and genuinely look into someone else's. Let's all try our best to stay human.

Smile!

A Ghost Bike Memorial

Last Thanksgiving, a woman with the great name Sunshine Baker was killed by a motorist while riding her bike on Speedway.

This morning I noticed the bike chained up where this accident happened, painted white as a memorial to Baker's memory.

I'm told she was riding the wrong way on Speedway, which I do all the time. I'm not proud of it, it's just true, and we all do it. I was in a car the other day with a friend who said they couldn't stand bikers taking up the road. I've been biking and had friends say they can't stand drivers taking up the road. I've been with those same people when they say the opposite thing.

The truth is we need to share the roads. Roads aren't wide enough, we know. There aren't enough wide enough bike lanes, we know. Since that's currently the case, the only reasonable thing to do is be vigilant and patient with each other, so people don't die. Especially on streets no one should be going fast enough to kill someone on.

If you ride your bike in Venice, you've most likely had your own share of close calls. If you've driven your car in Venice - same story. So look out for each other. Bikes deserve to be ridden, by happy-named, happy-riding people. Not painted white and locked up forever.

Happy Weekend - and be careful out there, for Heaven's sake! And Sunshine's.

Big Shots In Venice - A Celebration Of Guy Webster

There was another fun party at In Heroes We Trust last night, this time to celebrate the work of renowned rock photographer, Guy Webster. The man who has recorded so many of the legends and icons of the rock and film worlds was there to sign his new book, Big Shots: Rock Legends And Hollywood Icons, and to be congratulated on his decades of capturing that rich history.

It was a packed house, with revelers spilling out on to the sidewalk, clinking a beer, and toasting our still relatively new year.

Gracious hostess, Neely Shearer, has added a whole lot of good stuff since I'd last visited IHWT, so there was plenty to look at while you waited to have your gorgeous book signed by Mr. Webster.

It was great to see friends old and new, and you could feel a kind of unanimous and palpable excitement at all there is in store for everyone this year. Lots of good stories, lots of great events upcoming, lots of laughs, and lots of style.

As more and more people crammed in the store, things got a bit more loose. At one point, I turned around to see Webster donning a pair of underwear - on his head - to the amusement of those standing around him. I didn't catch that story, but it looked like a good one. I was happy to find out that Webster is a Venice local, so I'll look forward to finding out more about him and his stories soon.

Also known as an avid motorcycle enthusiast, it was perfect that a big posse of Venice Vintage Motorcycle Club members rolled up in a storm of noise, and parked out front to come inside and pay their respects to a fellow biker rock and roller. It was great.

I turned around as I left to head to the next thing, and had to smile at the scene outside In Heroes We Trust ... Street art, motorcycles, hula hoops, folks waving down friends passing by to join in ... and thought how lucky we all are here. Where we all feel like Big Shots, just to be here.

The Littles Of Venice

I was kicking a pinecone down the sidewalk the other day, when it rolled up against this little piece of street art.

I have absolutely no love for rats, so I'm surprised that I like this, but I think my affection is more about scale. It's all tiny and cute, and someone took the time to make a little piece of art just for fun.

The little surprises add up to make a happy life ... if you're paying attention.

Look!