+ the city of lost angles

I had an internship interview on Friday downtown and being a little nervous about getting down there by bus, I took a reconnaissance trip the day before to familiarise myself with the layout. I'm really glad I did - it was a good opportunity to get a feel for the area, and to earmark places to return to the next day.



Downtown LA does not enjoy a particularly good reputation as being a must-visit area, but many of the older buildings were surprisingly lovely (set between smells of hobo urine...) The building where I interviewed was itself an old bank converted into office studios upstairs and a swanky bar downstairs in the former vaults.

Th block before on Spring St featured this street art.


Walking up on 5th St towards Bunker Hill.


The next day, after the interview, I walked back up towards the Hill, to visit the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA). I was stymied by said Hill, until I noticed a little trolley gently gliding up and down. Score!

For just 25 cents, it takes you up gracefully without need for exertion or sweat.




On my way to MOCA, I was blinded by the silver brilliance of Walt Disney Concert Hall. Its steely layers beckoned.


At the Museum, I found this James Rosenquist piece highly alluring. I think it's called Waves.


As was this neon configuration, by I forget whom.


DTLA - it's what you make of it.


More photos in this flickr set.

+ mountains

Somewhere between Texas and California, I flew over this. It was dustily spectacular.

+ sxsw 2010

My annual return to this wonderful blue oasis is always rewarding, where the locals are charming and the music plentiful.


Washed Out was one of my highlights - he had such a great presence and just summed up the party vibe of the week for me. I wish I could have seen him more than once.


I saw Small Black many times, more by coincidence than design but they were good value everytime.


A new experience was spending the day at the French Legation Museum, a little off the main 6th St block downtown where most of the shows occur. The weather was ripe for lawn-sitting and hearing watery psych bliss from the likes of Woods...


...and super intense (but funny) synth jams from Dam-Funk.


A special shoutout to my Austin friends Jesse Lee and Blake, who were impeccable hosts/tourguides and always make me feel home in Austin.

More photos in the flickr set.

+ the morning after the night before

My two favourite people in all of Sydney Australia threw a farewell party for me at their house last night. And made me breakfast in the morning. You can't ask for better friends than that.









Soundtrack: Sparklehorse "Shade and Honey"

+ Mamak

Chinatown meets hipsterville in the surging popularity of Mamak, where lines snake around the block and under the pavilion gates into the pedestrian mall. Thankfully, the usual Asian efficiency means the wait is never long and the roti-making display in the front window is enough to distract (or torture) the hungriest of patrons.

Travis and I popped in for another of our goodbye dinners, starting with the excellent roti banang (egg and sweet onion roti).


The kari ikan blew the roof off my mouth (it's a super spicy, tangy fish curry with okra and eggplant).


Soundtrack: Sparklehorse "Sick of Goodbyes" (RIP Mark Linkous)