Posts Filed Under: la

Mike needs some wheels, so instead of carjacking some random SUV like I have been doing for the past week, we decide to go test drive a Nissan.  While at the dealer, talk quickly turns from the practical 5 door Rogue we came to check out, to the soon to be released company halo car, the Nissan GT-R.  Our sales man, Michael Harris, at Santa Monica Nissan confided in us that none other than Donald Sutherland snatched up the first GT-R hitting these shores.  He also explained it was for his kid, which if I do the math correctly means it could be for Keifer – unlikely because Jack Bauer can afford his own – so that leaves Agnus, Rossif, or Roeg Sutherland.  Mr. Sales Man also let it be known the Donald didn’t blink at the $30,000.00 dealer mark-up.

I’m not envious or anything.

I’m just into the GT-R.  Almost as much as Kazunori Yamauchi.

That is how you throw a grand opening celebration.  With a DJ mix that sounded like it was straight out of WOMB, we knew ROYAL/T pulled all the stops to kick things off right.  Even details like maids servicing the people lining up outside were not over looked.  Once inside, I do not think I was once without a cocktail, ranging from espresso martinis to some innocent looking fresh-squeezed watermelon concoctions that proved to be anything but innocent.

The art collection was straight out of the pages of Superflat, and will probably be easier to appreciate when ROYAL/T isn’t at max capacity like it was last night.  I can imagine this space (for lack of a better term) will be quite delightful when afternoon tea is being formally served by its attentive and doting staff.  But when they aren’t concerned about waking the neighbors, they can make you think you just stumbled out of a club in Roppongi Hills.

A small graft of Akihabara has been planted within walking distance of my apartment on Washington Blvd. in beautiful Culver City. Whether or not this graft takes and sprouts new growth remains to be seen, but I for one am excited to see the addition of ROYAL/T, LA’s first Japanese-style Maid cosplay cafe, to my neighborhood.

It seems they are expanding the scope of what a “traditional” maid-cafe offers, with an extensive art gallery and book/gift shop. I would also imagine they are going to downplay the fetish aspect of these cafes. But who knows. That remains to be seen. I’ll know it has gone too far when Yakuza deny me access to a groping-friendly train-themed cafe opening across the street.

The Grand Opening is tomorrow, and I will let you know how it goes with a hands-on impression.

*I feel a bit deflated as I edit this post, but the truth has come out: WIRED – Clear Channel: Digital Billboards Rented, Not Hacked

Ever since Clear Channel started popping massive monitors around LA, I knew these electronic billboards had a higher purpose than just alerting the masses to the next movie I may or may not add to my Netflix queue. I envisioned out of place Silent Hill clips, or ridiculous speed runs. And for a while it appeared skullphone opted to spread the brand a bit with a clever hack into the system. It has since been revealed it was just clever paid advertising. 100% legit.

Even though the means by which the skullphone images were propagated were not as impressive as first reported, skullphone still has some impressive shirts you should check out.

Went to the opening of “Incidental Nature” at Giant Robot 2 with kozyndan, Robert Bellm, and PCP. It was great seeing everyone, but sadly it’s the last time this art school of bunnyfish will ever be assembled in this manner.

Speaking of bunnyfish, I’ve never been so envious of an inanimate knitted object in all my life! It has been everywhere; ringside for some Muai Thai at Lumphini Stadium in Bangkok, scuba diving off the Great Barrier Reef, even in the the tender, loving grasp of Sarah Silverman at the Juno premier.

Get to GR2 before February 13th, or you’re gonna miss it.

Edit: I just found out that I made it into kozyndan’s Flickr album even though I thought I was completely camouflaged.

Sometimes, during the holiday rush, we forget the important things. Things like… Planes, Trains & Automobiles being the Best Thanksgiving Movie Ever. And Best Christmas Movie Ever? Die Hard. Drippy sentimentality comes second place to Alan Rickman as Hans Gruber. It’s loaded with 80s anachronisms: Japanese corporate dominance, smoking in airports, coke snorting suits, out of place nudity, Run DMC’s “Christmas In Hollis” and, obviously, Bruce Willis.

Plus, it’s loaded with terrorism when terrorism was fun.

I’m watching it now while I get some “real work” done. Hey, it’s a pre-Carl Winslow Reginald Vel Johnson! Fuckin A! No doubt‚ÄîBest Christmas Movie Ever.

Speaking of Die Hard, Kudos to Rogue Status for its “Ho Ho Ho” tee, but I’m not sure I’m down enough with the remix to pick it up. Their Dead Bird tee, also from Holiday 07 might look familiar.

Padlock over the back, it’s a nice touch. Their “The Man” tee isn’t bad either. Still got my copies of The ‘Nam stashed away at my parents’ house.