+ minty fresh

We took a long walk on Saturday to the end of Venice Beach, first swinging by to check out the Annenberg Community Beach House at the top of Santa Monica Beach. 5 hours later, I had a burnt red nose and crazily exhausted feet to show for it.


On the way, we came across this apartment block hued with a delightful minty green. I love the beach, mid-century modern American-ness of it all.


Then at Ocean Avenue, just before descending the steps down the bluff, we chanced upon Barbie looking kinda seedy, maybe sleeping off a big night out on the town?


The pool at the Beach House was my reason for the visit. What a shame it's not open year round (it's not even open every day of the week during the season either!) because it just looks so inviting.






A squadron of kites was impressively handled by one man.


I finally got to see Venice's Muscle Beach in action. Forget the muscles though, will you look at those short shorts!!


This photo cost me a dollar (generously paid by Benj)

+ Umami Burger

Long before arriving, I had wanted to try Umami Burger to see if it really did live up to the hype. And following the opening of the most recent location at Fred Segal, sooner or later I would get my way.


Umami takes its cue from the Japanese concept of the fifth taste that we experience (loosely "savouriness"), making a distinction in particular to saltiness by a more meatier, brothier sensation (in the way a mushroom can be). That said, the burgers themselves were pretty heavy on the salt. They were super tasty nonetheless and I'm already keen to go back for more.


I had the Earth burger - a mushroom and edamame patty with a white soy and truffle aioli, caramelised onions and lettuce.


Benj chose the Hatch, which is meant to have 6 types of chillis but none of them were very spicy at all, but again deliciously greasy anyway. Tempura onion rings made a nice companion.

Update 26/06/10: We ended up at Umami again for a well-earnt calorie-laden lunch following our Temescal Canyon Loop hike.


I had the triple pork burger, which was tasty but disappointing to find the three porks combined in a patty.


Whilst Ben's classic Umami burger looked plain but was well tasty for all its simplicity.



Umami Burger @ Fred Segal, cnr of 5th and Broadway, Santa Monica.

+ Main Street

Main St is less tourist-orientated than the Third St Promenade precinct of Santa Monica, but still a nice walkable area (especially from the apartment). There are decent cafes, some boutiques and a whole bunch of council buildings.


Like City Hall.


And the Civic Auditorium.


This lovely art deco mural was rather unfortunately painted over in parts with white paint. What a shame. Also, a large mobile home was inconveniently parked in front of it so I couldn't take a wider shot.


I don't know if this is the real deal from the movie, but the store window it was sitting in suggests it could be. It was kept company by an array of vintage tin toys and novelties.


Main St is also an easy distance to the beach.


By the end of the shops in the drag, I found myself on the border of Venice and Santa Monica, though I didn't venture any further south. If cheap, crappy trinkets and airbrushed artworks of reggae artists are your thing, look no further!


These ladies caught my eye though.

+ 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)

+ Corridor

The recent arrival of a new bar in Newtown had my curiosity piqued from early on, and Maha and I finally snuck in a midweek visit to check out the rooftop.


I dig it very much. Nice vibe, and being only a couple doors down from Madame Fling Flongs, it's a welcome addition to the non-pub drinking holes along King St.

I got a kick out of sitting directly adjacent to the back alley sign.


The good weather called for an appropriately summery drink. But no fear, if the weather does turn, the front lounge room which looks onto King St will have you warmed up in no time I'm sure.


Corridor, 153A King St Newtown (top end, near the cnr of Missenden).

+ thunderskies

Soundtrack: Balmorhea "Bowsprit"