![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
thehefnerAs I was lazy, I never did post the rest of my post-Mansion-"visit" photos of my last day in L.A., hanging out with the mighty ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
adaptor. Although I would be missing out on the usual Hollywood tourist things, she suggested one place I definitely should hit before I moved on...
My kind host and partner in crime. When she'd get back from work each day, we'd spend the weary evening watching DVDs. Best as I can recall, she showed me THE GRAND ILLUSION (awesome!) plus several episodes of BLACK BOOKS (love!) and that BLACKADDER episode with Rik Mayall, and I showed her DIABOLIQUE, MARATHON MAN, THE ICEMAN COMETH (still so, so good), A SHOT IN THE DARK, and most of GARTH MARENGHI'S DARKPLACE.
As you can probably imagine, a grand time was had.
There was this one Kubrickian room where you could sit in front of a camera and have your image inserted some Victorian (or whatever) setting. That's a bit more like what
I'd expect to find at a Smithsonian kids' museum rather than the Getty Center, but the room itself made for some fun pictures.
Ever since I decided that I wanted to live the snazzy-hatted life, I realized that I would have to deal with many people seeing my hat and thinking A CLOCKWORK ORANGE. It doesn't help that I still look a bit like Dim, even without the muttonchops. The "Korova Milk Bar"-style room isn't doing me any favors either.
Look'a me, Ma! Imma on teevee!
(Best Dr. Sulu impersonation) "Oh my."
Truth be told, we didn't take a ton of pictures from the museum itself. Mostly just each other having fun. But it wouldn't be right to go without a couple pictures of the fine city itself...
Smog, or smoke from the wildfires? You decide!
L.A. was indeed a bizarro world with its own strange customs, lifestyles, and outlooks. I had some preparation for what to expect thanks to L.A. STORY and KISS KISS BANG BANG ("It's like someone grabbed America by the East Coast and shook it, and all the normal girls managed to hang on!"), which definitely helped.
Yet there is a strange allure to Los Angeles nonetheless, and it might be worth my time to hang my hat there for a couple months. Not only do I have friends there already, but my cousin Kelwin has invited me to stay at his Santa Clarita home whenever I'd like, for however long I'd like. Kelwin's a working actor who's done a lot of stuff, including the video for Radiohead's "High and Dry":
He's the sorta "Nick Cave by way of Michael Madsen" guy who blows up. He's one of those guys for whom you just wanna write a movie vehicle. Maybe someday. Sadly, I didn't take any pictures of him or his family when they had me over for dinner. Damn it, I keep not taking enough pictures! But I'm learning.
But as for L.A., I barely stepped out at all, yet I was certainly intrigued by what I saw. It's not the kind of place I can imagine settling down for longer than a couple months (Seattle and London are currently my extended cities of choice, although I'm going to be interested to see how much I like Vancouver and Montreal).
Also, I am anxious to return to the Apple Pan:
(Photo not mine, found via google)
This historic diner is a bit pricy, but that's because all the money goes directly to the workers, most of whom have been there for ten years or more (in most cases, way more). But you get what you pay for, not just in the charmingly grumpy atmosphere, but in the food itself. I've heard the burgers described as the best in the world, but that's not a fair comparison: their legendary Hickory Burger is something entirely unto itself. And what it is is bloody amazing.
But to top it off was the banana cream pie. Now, I don't care for banana cream pie normally. When it comes to cream pies, I draw the line at coconut. But I'd heard people raving about the Apple Pan's banana cream pie, folks saying they could and have lived off it for a week. So what the hell, I thought.
Put it to you this way. Whenadaptor took a bite while my back was turned, I heard a flump and found her on the kitchen floor, slumped against the cabinet, the fork in her hand and a blank expression on her face. Like a heart attack of awesome.
Let me put it to you this way: the burgers and pies of the Apple Pan are so good, they're a serious deciding factor in me considering going to L.A. for a couple months.
But for now, though, it was time to hit the road again. Following Route 1 up the West Coast of America would prove to be a very different experience than 66, filled with unique wonders and familiar despairs, but I'll get to all that in due time.
adaptor. Although I would be missing out on the usual Hollywood tourist things, she suggested one place I definitely should hit before I moved on...My kind host and partner in crime. When she'd get back from work each day, we'd spend the weary evening watching DVDs. Best as I can recall, she showed me THE GRAND ILLUSION (awesome!) plus several episodes of BLACK BOOKS (love!) and that BLACKADDER episode with Rik Mayall, and I showed her DIABOLIQUE, MARATHON MAN, THE ICEMAN COMETH (still so, so good), A SHOT IN THE DARK, and most of GARTH MARENGHI'S DARKPLACE.
As you can probably imagine, a grand time was had.
There was this one Kubrickian room where you could sit in front of a camera and have your image inserted some Victorian (or whatever) setting. That's a bit more like what
I'd expect to find at a Smithsonian kids' museum rather than the Getty Center, but the room itself made for some fun pictures.
Ever since I decided that I wanted to live the snazzy-hatted life, I realized that I would have to deal with many people seeing my hat and thinking A CLOCKWORK ORANGE. It doesn't help that I still look a bit like Dim, even without the muttonchops. The "Korova Milk Bar"-style room isn't doing me any favors either.
Look'a me, Ma! Imma on teevee!
(Best Dr. Sulu impersonation) "Oh my."
Truth be told, we didn't take a ton of pictures from the museum itself. Mostly just each other having fun. But it wouldn't be right to go without a couple pictures of the fine city itself...
Smog, or smoke from the wildfires? You decide!
L.A. was indeed a bizarro world with its own strange customs, lifestyles, and outlooks. I had some preparation for what to expect thanks to L.A. STORY and KISS KISS BANG BANG ("It's like someone grabbed America by the East Coast and shook it, and all the normal girls managed to hang on!"), which definitely helped.
Yet there is a strange allure to Los Angeles nonetheless, and it might be worth my time to hang my hat there for a couple months. Not only do I have friends there already, but my cousin Kelwin has invited me to stay at his Santa Clarita home whenever I'd like, for however long I'd like. Kelwin's a working actor who's done a lot of stuff, including the video for Radiohead's "High and Dry":
He's the sorta "Nick Cave by way of Michael Madsen" guy who blows up. He's one of those guys for whom you just wanna write a movie vehicle. Maybe someday. Sadly, I didn't take any pictures of him or his family when they had me over for dinner. Damn it, I keep not taking enough pictures! But I'm learning.
But as for L.A., I barely stepped out at all, yet I was certainly intrigued by what I saw. It's not the kind of place I can imagine settling down for longer than a couple months (Seattle and London are currently my extended cities of choice, although I'm going to be interested to see how much I like Vancouver and Montreal).
Also, I am anxious to return to the Apple Pan:
(Photo not mine, found via google)
This historic diner is a bit pricy, but that's because all the money goes directly to the workers, most of whom have been there for ten years or more (in most cases, way more). But you get what you pay for, not just in the charmingly grumpy atmosphere, but in the food itself. I've heard the burgers described as the best in the world, but that's not a fair comparison: their legendary Hickory Burger is something entirely unto itself. And what it is is bloody amazing.
But to top it off was the banana cream pie. Now, I don't care for banana cream pie normally. When it comes to cream pies, I draw the line at coconut. But I'd heard people raving about the Apple Pan's banana cream pie, folks saying they could and have lived off it for a week. So what the hell, I thought.
Put it to you this way. When
adaptor took a bite while my back was turned, I heard a flump and found her on the kitchen floor, slumped against the cabinet, the fork in her hand and a blank expression on her face. Like a heart attack of awesome. Let me put it to you this way: the burgers and pies of the Apple Pan are so good, they're a serious deciding factor in me considering going to L.A. for a couple months.
But for now, though, it was time to hit the road again. Following Route 1 up the West Coast of America would prove to be a very different experience than 66, filled with unique wonders and familiar despairs, but I'll get to all that in due time.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2008-12-01 07:46 pm (UTC)Also, pretty sure it's normally that smoggy in LA.. but I'm sure the fires didn't help much.
no subject
Date: 2008-12-01 07:57 pm (UTC)As KC put it, "If you can taste the air, then it's smoke not fire." We were nursing groggy smoke headaches on and off all week. Another reason why I didn't go out into the city.
no subject
Date: 2008-12-01 08:40 pm (UTC)I am glad you're having fun, dude. Someday, I will be in California while not in an airport. At which point I will make a beeline for the sandwich.
no subject
Date: 2008-12-02 01:14 am (UTC)Yes, make a note of it, should you ever end up in the area. Also, pie.
Santa Carlita?
Date: 2008-12-02 03:27 am (UTC)What? Santa Clarita?
Oh...
nevermind...
;)
All the damn vampires
Date: 2008-12-02 07:56 am (UTC)Re: All the damn vampires
Date: 2008-12-02 02:10 pm (UTC)Re: All the damn vampires
Date: 2008-12-02 05:50 pm (UTC)Mah Spoon Is Too Big!
Date: 2008-12-02 03:55 am (UTC)Why didn't someone tell me of this?! The looks we got from the Indian family make so much more sense now...
Be sure to warn pie-eaters of the potassium burn. We only ate in few-bite increments. I can't imagine what would happen if someone scarfed the thing. (I think it results in pregnancy - for either gender. It'd be a shame to let that potassium go to waste.)
I AM A BANANA. *vacuum sucking*
Date: 2008-12-02 08:13 am (UTC)It is worth the burn. So totally, gloriously worth the burn. Actually, I never experienced the burn myself, for I nibbled at it. But I shall henceforthwithwhatnot issue warnings.
Oh! Which reminds me:
http://www.filmcow.com/charlietheunicorn.html
and if you're so inclined afterward:
http://www.filmcow.com/charlietheunicorn2.html
Re: I AM A BANANA. *vacuum sucking*
Date: 2008-12-02 02:11 pm (UTC)Must watch that soon!
Shun the nonbeliever! Shun! SHHHHHHUUUNNNNNNN!
:)