In certain speculation, life is balanced in relation to the elements of yin and yang. The Hollywood Roosevelt, to me, can best be described as a balance between two contradicting factors: new and old, light and dark, and, at the new restaurant called Public Kitchen, sweet and salty.

I spot the typical young, hip crowd loitering around the entrance of Teddy’s amidst the vintage inspired décor as I make my way to find Haya waiting in a large round booth under a massive chandelier. The lighting in the Roosevelt is hard to figure out, it’s not the most flattering and it’s almost even too dark, yet at the same time, it gives the illusion that one has gone back in time, giving its compliments to the furniture and fixtures more so than the patrons in the hotel. None the less, the plush banquettes and sweeping ceilings in the Americana atmosphere that is Public Kitchen is inviting. The old school décor was the brain child of acclaimed L.A. design team Studio Collective, and rumor has it they even have an ivy-and-fauna-swaddled, sun-dappled private garden room!

While we speak to our kind waiter and the most hospitable bar manager I have ever encountered in my entire LA dining career, we sampled the specialty cocktail menu, which has received its fair share of press and thumbs ups due to the fact that the cocktails are only 9 bucks. First up: The Alexander. Sweet and refreshing, it was a nice balance to the warm environment, and boy was it warm in there! After the air was turned on, and we made our way through a taster menu created by chef Tim Goodell.

A sweet and creamy roasted beat salad, salty mushrooms on toast, super salty monkfish wrapped in pancetta with overly tart lemon butter sauce, slightly over-cooked but still delicious pork schnitzel, and more sweet cocktails. Quite the balance of flavors indeed!

The dessert was by far the best part, a chocolate soufflé and a layered berry crème cake presented in a mason jar were, again, a perfect equilibrium of savory chocolate and sweet tart.

To sum it up, the staff is exceptional and the food is worth the price. I personally enjoyed the ambiance very much, and would recommend a casual evening experience at the Public Kitchen. If not to dine, then to at least sample the cocktails, because they are the best offering. Cheers!

Public Kitchen & Bar: Roosevelt Hotel
7000 Hollywood Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90028
(323) 769-8888

Some of the best dining on Abbot Kinney can be found at Joe Miller’s mainstay Joe’s Restaurant. The restaurant offers fine dining with a neighborhood atmosphere that attracts locals and celebrities alike. The California-French cuisine combines fresh ingredients sourced from local farmers markets and the chef’s creativity for some truly memorable dishes.

The dinner menu includes an extensive selection of hot and cold plates, such as the tuna tartare and smoked salmon with sliced cucumbers, and the bouchot mussels with shaved fennel, red chili, and espilette aioli. The poached white asparagus with Santa Barbara uni and shiitake mushrooms is a light treat, while the butter-poached Tasmanian Ocean trout with sunchoke and crisp quinoa offers something much richer.

For those looking for a heartier meal, Joe’s offers prime pork tenderloin crepinette, and a delicious coffee-chili rub prime beef ribeye as part of the “Joe’s Classics” menu. A generous prix fixe menu as well as a sampling menu, which changes daily, are also available. The restaurant’s wood ceiling and floors and large windows make it an excellent choice for a romantic evening or a boisterous brunch with friends.

Joe Miller, the restaurant’s namesake and owner, has brought his skills to a number of Los Angeles restaurants including Café Katsu, La Toque and L’Orangerie. His ambition for Joe’s Restaurant was to mix Asian and Californian ingredients and esthetics with the formal techniques of French cuisine. Executive chef Kris Tominaga brings his own background in Japanese cooking and French cuisine experience from having worked at Boston celebrated L’espalier.

The wine menu includes a diverse selection of whites and reds, as well as Joe Miller’s own signature Santa Barbara pinot noir (bottles are also available for purchase for those who want to take Joe home). Complete the meal with one of the restaurant’s delicious desserts, including chocolate crunch cake, espresso soufflé and peanut butter mousse.

Joe’s Restaurant
1023 Abbot Kinney Blvd
Venice, CA 90291
(310) 399-5811
www.joesrestaurant.com

By Bob Schriner
Photos by Sarah Renard

Dearly Departed is the labor of Scott Michaels’ love of Hollywood’s glorious history and seedy undercurrent. The result is a tremendous tour of dark comedy, fascinating trivia and some downright gruesome happenings. Some quirky sightings that stuck out in my mind were Bela Lugosi’s cigar shop. For some reason I imagine him shopping in grainy, slow motion and scaring the other shoppers. Another funny point of interest was the salon where Marilyn Monroe first went blonde, the Happy Days house, the liquor store Halle Berry crashed into, the house from Halloween and the house from Whatever Happened to Baby Jane, this man knows his business. As we went on we saw some less light-hearted locations, like the place James Dean had his last meal, the alleged location of the Black Dahlia murder and most grisly, the restaurant where Britney Spears met Kevin Federline.

One of the things I was most impressed by was our host’s speedy recall of an encyclopedic pop culture memory. Any time we drove by a hospital he named dozens of celebs that had passed away there. At one point a fellow tour member from Australia asked if Scott knew where the house Germs singer Darby Crash overdosed in was located. Not only did he know, he casually drove us by it between regular stops on the tour. I was tempted to just throw the most random of trivia out there to see if we could tie them into actual sightings. For the sake of my fellow tour takers, I opted to wait until the end to drop my obscure requests one on one. Like a bloodhound always knows where the bird is, I got dirt on all my inquiries. This guy is good!
If you have even mild to major appreciation for the macabre or a desire to see Hollywood range tacky to tragic, give Dearly Departed a call. If you’re not completely amused send me the bill and I’ll send you a star map and a compass. Fair enough?

Visit: http://www.dearlydepartedtours.com/

The Check Yo Pony Tail 2 show at the Echoplex in Echo Park, Los Angeles was the place to be Tuesday. This sold out show was packed full of fans of both Com Truise and XXYYXX. Swell City Guide had an exciting ticket giveaway which had two lucky winners to this show.

The contest was to tell Swell City Guide what the names Com Truise and XXYYXX means to you?

Our first winner Will said:

“XXYYXX means Hugs and Kisses and Com Truise is the way Tom Cruise spells his name when his life coach isn’t around.” We thought this was both funny and quite clever.

Our second winner Stephen said:

“good good ∆ stuff”

Now this answer is also quite witty and very, keen on the witch house scene. A lot of great witch house producers such as XXYYXX, LAKE R∆DIO, ∆NGST, and others use symbols in their names and song titles. I’m not exactly sure how this started but I also spoke with 17 year old Orlando, Florida producer XXYYXX and asked him a few questions in a short interview:

Carey of Swell City Guide: First of all how do you say XXYYXX?

Marcel aka XXYYXX: you just say each letter like X,X, Y, Y, X, X.

Carey of Swell City Guide: Okay that’s cool because some people try to pronounce it and some just say each letter.
How did you come up with this name?

XXYYXX: I was searching for a unique name that no one else had, but it really doesn’t mean anything.

Carey of Swell City Guide: Really, interesting. You did great tonight and hope to hear some new stuff soon.

XXYYXX: Thank you.

XXYYXX did play a very good set and mixed some hip-hop songs too, which helped make the crowd shake it on the dance floor. This crowd was awesome for a Tuesday night. The Check Your Pony Tail scene attracts a lot of young cats and older hip folks like myself. XXYYXX played some of my favorite songs like “Good Enough” and “Set it Off” both of his self titled album “XXYYXX.” Go get this album right now and I think I can describe it of having elements of witch house, dirty south rap, and r&b. I was really hoping he would play “Closer” and “DMT.” These are my favorites from the album.

The headliner was none other then Com Truise. Mr. Com Truise is from the east coast and also has a live drummer, which was a pleasant surprise. Com Truise is more chillwave, electronic music which reminds me of the song from Nintendo’s Out Run game. He played various songs from “In Decay” , “Cyanide Sisters,” and “Galactic Melt.” I’m so glad he did play one of my new favorite songs titled “VHS Sex.” Com Truise music also reminds me of the Cronenberg’s movie Videodrome for some reason. I’m sure you can collect what Com Truise reminds you of from various children of the 80s and they will say some other cool things like Tron, newwave, and more.

Check Your Ponytail 2, the Echoplex, and Iheartcomix all organized an excellent show. The openers Giraffe and Penthouse Penthouse were great and the very dark and eerie visuals by Demonbabies were epic , too. You better buy tickets quick to the next show or stay tuned for more Swell City Guide ticket giveaways!

written by Carey Steinberg and photography by Carey Steinberg

On the eve of the 85^th Academy Awards, The PRISM Gallery, on historic Sunset Blvd., presented the opening preview and reception for the legendary photographer, Mario Testino. Opening its doors for supermodels, celebrities and art enthusiasts, Prism gallery held an exclusive soiree in honor of the genius photographer. The exhibit featured 28 large-scale photographs from a life long journey through the lens of Mr. Testino. The night was filled with beautifully dressed socialites sipping on Porton, the ultra premium, handcrafted pisco from Peru specially requested by Mr. Testino for his guests. Among those attendees were: PC Valmorbida, Alessandra Ambrosio, Kim Kardashian, Marisa Tomei, Pamela Anderson, Serge & Florence Azria, Jared Leto, Zac Posen, Jeremy Scott, Vito Schnabel, Russell Simmons, Erin Wasson just to name drop a few.

The Peruvian extraordinaire has been a renowned photographer for decades. Testino has worked with the world’s most enduring magazines and published 12 books, including Rio de Janeiro Testino, Kate Moss by Mario Testino, Private View and In Your Face. Among the gorgeous photos in the PRISM gallery, owned by PC Valmodbida, was a breathtaking shot of Kate Moss delicately hanging from the second floor balcony. I caught many people admiring her beauty, including other supermodels like Alessandra Ambrosio. In July 2012, Testino established MATE, Asociación Mario Testino in Lima, Peru. MATE is a not-for-profit cultural organization that will promote and celebrate the arts of his native country and permanently host his own work. The organization will present a new exhibition, Alta Moda, this April.

Located next to Eveleigh and across from Drago Restaurant, PRISM gallery is housed in a three story architectural space on the western end of the Sunset Strip designed by Marcelo Spina and Georgina Huljich of PATTERNS. Founded in 2009 by PC Valmorbida and Jared Najjar, PRISM has featured 18 solo and group exhibitions, including the acclaimed RETURN OF THE REPRESSED: DESTROY ALL MONSTERS, 1973-1977 (2012) and MISERICORDIA (2010).

The Mario Testino Exhibition will be on view until March 30, 2013.

Written by: Jonathan Stinson

Photo Credit: David X Prutting

I was in for a very special treat last week on Tuesday, February 19th to see rock supergroup Tomahawk reunite for the first time in 10 years. They played live at the Mayan Theater in downtown Los Angeles to celebrate a new era free from the apocalypse.

The show’s opening band was Southern California’s own Retox who went on tour with Tomahawk throughout the west coast. Both Retox and Tomahawk are on the same label called Ipecac Recordings, which is managed by former label manager of Alternative Tentacles Greg Werckman and Mike Patton the singer of Tomahawk, Fantomas, and formerly of Faith No More. Retox’s singer is none other then Justin Pearson a man of many great bands such as the Locust, Swing Kids, Crimson Curse, and All Leather, to name a few.  Pearson screams witty lyrics of song titles such as “A Bastard on Fathers’ Day” and “The World is Ending and Its About Time.” I think Retox combines punk, post-punk, and hardcore to make a truly unique sound of their own. The guitars are spacey and heavy with former Festival of Dead Deer guitarist Michael Crain while the drums are fast and heart-pounding. Most of their songs rocket in at shorter lengths within one to two minutes of pure, fist pumping hardcore music. You can listen to most of their songs at: https://retox.bandpage.com/ or buy the album “Ugly Animals” on iTunes.

According to Tomahawks website they never broke up and this tour is not a reunion. Ipecac states “they took a break to discover the many truths of the universe.” Tomahawk in my opinion is a true rock n’ roll supergroup composed of the singer and keyboardist Mike Patton (Faith No More, Mr. Bungle, Fantomas, etc), Duane Dennison on guitar (the Jesus Lizard, Unsemble, etc), John Stanier on drums (Helmet, Battles, etc) and Trevor Dunn (Fantomas, Mr. Bungle, etc) on bass.

The crowd first witnessed the band’s sarcastic humor with about 30 minutes of the tribal, tomahawk war cries in between bands. By the time they came out to play everybody was ready for some Tomahawk action. Tomahawk rocked through all of their albums such as one of my favorites’ Mit Gas, Anonymous, Eponymous to Anonymous, and the newest album released in January called Odd Fellows. As soon as Mike Patton begins to scream, Duane and Trevor shred on guitars, and John pounds the drums this put the crowd and myself in some serious head banging. When I heard my favorite song “Captain Midnight” for the first time live this evening, I honestly felt goose bumps. Tomahawk ended with an encore even consisting of some Bad Brains anthems.Tomahawk can be described in many genres such as metal, alternative, rock, tribal, and experimental. Some of my favorite songs are “Birdsong,” “Captain Midnight,” “Sun Dance,” and a new one “Stone Letter.” Check out and go buy their new album called “Odd Fellows.” You should buy the vinyl version with album art from cartoonist Ivan Brunetti or for digital enthusiasts you can buy it on iTunes.

Photos

Review and Photography by Carey Steinberg

Tucked away in the City of Angels is a place you’ve been dying to try for years. Friends, families, acquaintances, colleagues, you name it – basically anyone who has been here before will attest to Hotel Bel-Air’s irresistible charm. So you were itching to step inside as soon as it reopened its doors in 2011.

Spanish colonial architecture done up in French Deco design still predominates the overall aura of Hotel Bel-Air. Its brand of Bel-Air style has been upgraded a notch, however, with interiors that portray effortless elegance and youthful languidness.

Lush gardens surround 58 guestrooms and 45 suites. Look for pleasant surprises in one of the seven one-of-a-kind specialty suites, such as retractable walls that retreat to allow the entire space to open up to an outdoor patio.

Interior designer Alexandra Champalimaud is responsible for the re-design of Hotel Bel-Air. The Hollywood of the 30′s, 40′s, and 50′s served as her inspiration, a time when quintessential American style was much sought after and gave visitors from all over the world a taste of gorgeous glamor, easy living, and scintillating style.

Hotel Bel-Air
701 Stone Canyon Road,
Los Angeles, CA 90077
+1 310-472-1211
www.hotelbelair.com

PRISM is delighted to announce the forthcoming exhibition by Jim Drain, ‘Drain Expressions.’ This is the artist’s first solo presentation at the gallery.

‘Drain Expressions’ proposes a level of visual fecundity that has long been present in the artist’s work – elaborate woven compositions, deconstructed paintings, immersive wall patterns, wall-mounted sculptures and gently satirical promotional posters are drawn together in the artist’s first major exhibition in Los Angeles in 8 years.

Drain’s work participates in a dynamic interplay between rigorous geometries and hyperactive, chaotic forms; and this pluralism becomes the primary impulse behind this body of work. Paintings are simplified and then expanded, where the stretcher constitutes both the armature and the surface of the piece. Wall-mounted sculptures are enmeshed within gridded wall patterns, a grid that the artist considers as a means to visualise empty space. A series of posters promoting the exhibition are embedded into the content of the show – these are works that publicize the exhibition as well as constituting it, in a humorous gesture towards contemporary art’s constant self-reflexivity.

It was Drain’s involvement in the highly-influential Fort Thunder community in Rhode Island that first attracted the recognition of audiences, critics and institutions. A surfeit of materials once produced by the industries of Rhode Island, particularly yarn, offered an immediate material abundance for Drain to work with. This interest in textiles maintains an enduring presence in his sculptures, paintings and furniture; yet while these elements are retained, Drain’s work is also characterised by constant flurries of new formal and conceptual activity.

Drain (1975) was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and is currently based in Miami. Drain has exhibited extensively throughout the United States and Europe; he was awarded the Baloise Prize for his Statements exhibition at Art Basel in 2005, he completed a DAAD residency in Berlin in 2008 and will soon complete a site-specific commission for a new US Embassy compound in Rabat, Morocco. His work is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, New York.

An opening reception for ‘Drain Expressions’ will be held from 6 -8 pm on 10 November at the gallery. Coinciding with this exhibition, Jim Drain will deliver a lecture at the Hammer Museum on 15 November at 7.30pm.

source: http://www.prismla.com

contributor: ~Jae Joseph

PRISM
8746 W. Sunset Boulevard
West Hollywood, CA 90069
T 310 289 1301
F 310 289 1302

PRESS/MEDIA INQUIRIES
Nadine Johnson & Assoc.
312 West 19th Street
New York, NY 10011
212.228.5555
andrea@nadinejohnson.com

Bill Adler has opened his Will Leather Goods storefront this week in Venice,CA. Adler who is a Detroit native has been innovating great design in the world of leather of leather since the 70′s. His love affair began while pursuing his acting career, where he took a sabbatical to develop the early line of belts, deemed Billy Belts.

Developing a belt collection sold in the heart of the Venice beach boardwalk became the the beginning of a love affair with leather. Adler then decided to relocate his creativity to Eugene, Oregon. While amidst the beauty of nature there in Oregon, Bill began to birth life to an immense amount of inspiration that allowed him to create beautiful accessories and handbags to be used in people’s everyday life.

The new flagship store resides on the artistic block of Abbot Kinney Boulevard, which holds a reputation for being a creative hub of sorts. With Lamella ceilings in this 1700 square-foot space, this 1930′s constructed revels in the support of 30 foot vaulted ceilings,which is one of four left in California, and criss-crossing diamond arches composed from Douglas fir wood.

To accompany the ambiance of the rich and rustic interior, guest were greeted by the sounds of George Lewis aka DJ TWIN SHADOW and Wynne Bennett.

Twin Shadow gave the guests a sneak peek into some the grooves he would be playing the following night at Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles.

Ninkasi Brewery based out of Eugene, Oregon where the WILL Leather Goods brand is based, provided guest with an array of tasteful beer options to go along with local Venice staple Gjelena’s catering.

Each texture is to covet, from leather to lambskin,  juniper to oak, with vintage and reclaimed materials in the collection. Surrounded by an environment of timeless expression, Will Leather Goods flagship embodies a lifestyle that can be translated to anyone.

~Jae Joseph

www.willleathergoods.com

twitter @WillLeather

A PERFORMANCE SERIES (LAX BUS TERMINAL) OCT. 13, 8:00PM & October 14, 7:00PM

Choreographer and Director Sarah Elgart presents an encore of her 2011 performance, FLYAWAY HOME, a reflective, ambient and movement-based performance work that travels through and responds to the scale and the architecture of the Van Nuys Flyaway bus terminal, while exploring themes of flight,light, and gravity, and the idea that you take your home with you. Featuring original music by Feltlike, large-scale projections by artist Stephen Glassman and costume design by Swinda Reichelt. This initiative was made possible by the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs as well as Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA.ORG)

Location: 7610 Woodley Avenue

Van Nuys, CA 91406

Please note that this is a free and ticketless event.

After a stressful day stuck in LA traffic and the bad luck of not finding the perpetual California sun on my trip there is nothing better than coming to find refuge in the calm and beautiful Marina Del Rey, more precisely at the Ritz-Carlton Marina Del Rey situated at only one mile from Venice Beach and Fisherman’s Village marina Del Rey.

This elegant 14 story Hotel, a contemporary interpretation of classic European architecture (listed annually on Condé Nast Traveler’s Gold List and Travel & Leisure’s “T+L 500”) provides you a warm comforting feeling of luxury from the minute you walk in this establishment while keeping a savvy balance of California relaxed laid back into your overall experience.

As my friend and I walked in, a little beat up by the unusual nonstop rain and clouds over Los Angeles, a very dedicated staff greeted us and led us to our beautiful room with gorgeous Marina views as a promise of a very relaxing experience.

The lobby lounge opening on the front desk provides an instantaneous cozy feel perfect for grabbing some appetizers and cocktails before dinner. The overall color scale of the room goes from warm tones of wood for the lavish furniture and leather couches, to a deep and rich red velvet couches. The overall atmosphere is enhanced by a delicate and cozy lighting. An elegant and imposing chimney gives a feeling of relaxation into a beautiful living room and the shiny striped dark wood floor makes you feel that you are staying on a gorgeous Yacht, reminding you instantly that the Hotel overlook s one of the world’s largest marina.

My room was located on the 11th floor of the Hotel, one the two keyed access floors reserved to club guests who can enjoy the exclusive services and amenities the Ritz-Carlton has to offer. If you are lucky enough to stay at the club level don’t miss the Marina Terrace and the handsomely furnished Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge whose staff will greet you very warmly.

Sit back in one of the overstuffed chairs and enjoy complementary food and drinks while taking in the soothing views of the Marina.  This is an amazing setting if your trip includes some work on the road. The lounge offers all you need for an efficient office session (high speed wireless internet, computers, printers…)

Make sure to also visit the very complete 24 hour fitness club but don’t be surprised if in the middle of your cardio training you surrender to the view of the heated pool and go trade your tennis shoes for a swimsuit. If more in the mood for some pampering I recommend you the Ritz Carlton Spa for luxurious body treatments, Eucalyptus steam room and Vitamin-C infused showers.

From the luxurious amenities and views to the acclaimed Jer-ne restaurant + the Ritz-Carlton Marina Del Rey is the perfect gateway while staying at the close distance to the main attraction of Los Angeles and the cool atmosphere of Venice Beach and Santa Monica. This is one place I’m looking forward to come to on my trip to LA.

The Ritz-Carlton Marina Del Rey
4375 Admiralty Way, Marina Del Rey, California 90292
Tel: 310 823 1700, Fax 310 574 4303

The Sargent House Records show with Deafheaven, And So I Watch You From Afar, Chelsea Wolfe, and headliners Russian Circles was an amazing mix of eclectic music and an awesome show. All the bands were great and Sargent House really knows how to organize an outstanding show.

The first band Deafheaven are actually one of my new favorite bands. They are from San Francisco and toured with Russian Circles throughout the US. Deafheaven is in my opinion a hardcore band with a mixture of shoegaze and influences of black metal music. The songs have long, atmospheric guitar riffs and screamo vocals. The songs have numerous buildups and slow down at certain points lasting quite long, but the songs never seem too long. Most of their songs are more then seven minutes long, so their opening set for this show only had about 4 songs. They have been classified as being a black metal band, however both Deafheaven and I disagree. I kicked it with the band and for awhile after their amazing performance outside the El Rey Theater in Los Angeles for a short interview to learn the truth:

Carey from Swell City Guide: Are you a black metal band?

Deafheaven: We are not black metal, but we are influenced by black metal music.

Carey from Swell City Guide: What are your influences?

Deafheaven: Our music influences are everything from 90s shoegaze, post
Rock bands like Joy Division and black metal bands like Burzum and Wigrid.

Carey from Swell City Guide: What are your lyrics about?

Deafheaven: Our lyrics are about life. We are trying to express human emotions.

Carey from Swell City Guide: Any new music and releases coming out soon?

Deafheaven: In the next year we are writing new stuff which will release in the near future.

Deafheaven has two releases. The first release is called Demo with four songs. This album may have only four songs, but it is amazing. My favorite song is “Daedalus” which is an anthem! I asked them to play it, but they were concerned they didn’t have much time as the opening band. Demo was just rereleased as a vinyl package on the Sargent House website. You can get this remastered album on a 12 inch record, with a Deafheaven American Apparel t-shirt, and a record player slip mat at http://sargenthouse.com/Deafheaven for yourself.

The second release called Roads to Judah is also great and they mostly played this album. With songs like “Violet” that begin with guitars and drive hard with machine gun like drums and melodramatic vocals, this album is a classic and great to blast while driving in traffic to release some daily angst. I am excited to see Deafheavens next release and I think both albums are great.

The next band was And So I Watch you from Afar. Their music is very technical, yet the guitar riffs are so amazing they speak to the listener. Therefore, lyrics are not really necessary and most songs do not have any lyrics. I felt lucky to see this band as they came all the way from Ireland to perform. They were great and you should buy their songs on Sargent House. I like the song ” 7 Billion People All Alive at Once ” which has also been remixed by fellow Belfast group Jape. You can listen to these songs also on the Sargent House website at http://sargenthouse.com/And_So_I_Watch_You_From_Afar and check it out.

Chelsea Wolfe was the third band and what a great idea to mix genres in a show. Not only is she beautiful and quite fashionable, but her music is great. It was nice to hear a different style of music rather then all the bands being heavy testosterone-fueled rock music. Her sound is a combo of indie, goth, witch house, and electronica. She played guitar in most songs, but during some songs she put down the guitar and concentrated on singing only. She really does have an amazing dark angelic voice. I really like her new album “Apokalypsis” and the album has been featured on many websites as one of the best albums of 2011. Chelsea’s voice is great and her band mates were all very good musicians, too. I really like the songs “Mer” and “Demons” . You can listen to the whole album on Sargent House’s website at http://sargenthouse.com/Chelsea_Wolfe to hear it for yourself. I’m certain you will want to buy this album and her others after listening to them.

Russian Circles was the final, headlining band. So far every band was amazing and Sargent House organized a phenomenal show. I didn’t anticipate Russian Circles would disappoint me. I briefly read Guitarist magazine, which stated how superb of a guitar player Mike Sullivan is in Russian Circles. I totally agree. The music speaks for itself and no lyrics are necessary. I really enjoy instrumental rock bands such as Pelican, Mogwai, Godspeed you Black Emperor, and Russian Circles, of course. I like every song they write and each musician is amazing. Bass, drums and guitar make this 3 piece a wall of sound for a small band. I waited patiently to buy their new
record on vinyl from their merch booth. I really like the Sargent house website where u can listen to all of Russian Circles’ albums as well as every band on the label. It is a great website that allows you to hear every song by this amazing band. I believe every single song they create is wonderful.

Russian Circles played over an hour and I estimate they played 10-15 songs. The crowd was roaring for an encore and they ended the night with an amazing, amazing performance. I would love to see Russian Circles again, hopefully in the near future.

In conclusion every band was quite amazing and Sargent House truly knows how to organize a great show. I look forward to the next one.

-Carey Steinberg

LA Market by Kerry Simon shares the floor with the luxurious Ritz Carlton Residences in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. With neighbors such as Staple Center and Nokia Theatre, this modern neon lit restaurant is the perfect spot for a pre-Laker game happy hour or an upscale dinner with friends before a concert. Chef Kerry Simon has taken a “rock n roll” spin on an American Cuisine with a garnish of good old-fashioned Southern flavor. LA Market’s lively setting features an open kitchen where we watched these culinary masters at work. Chef de Cuisine Nona Sivley, winner of Gordon Ramsey’s “Hell’s Kitchen Season 8,” is Chef Kerry Simon’s second in command at this ultra-hip eatery.

Starting our dinner with the spicy New Orleans inspired BBQ shrimp and grits still has my mouth watering. Even though I am a Southern boy at heart and a New Orleans local, this version of shrimp and grits definitely did not disappoint in comparison. I could tell one of these master chefs was a Southerner, which David our waiter, assured us that Chef Nona Sively in the kitchen was actually from Louisiana. I knew this just by tasting her dish. Ironically as an acoustic rendition of the classic Rolling Stones song “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” hummed in the background we ordered a spiked watermelon from an iPad in the middle of the table. While our specialty drinks were being freshly prepared, we discussed our next course. To be honest, I was apprehensive about the sushi. However, we decided on the Tuna Dynamite anyway (what a surprise), which was piled high with fresh lump crabmeat, tuna and red chili aioli. This Asian-inspired dish tasted equally as delicious as an authentic sushi bar, but with an American twist, of course. For our entrée, we requested the tenderloin of beef complemented by potato gratin, seasonal oven roasted tomatoes, broccoli rabe, and a black pepper balsamic sauce. The beef was cooked to perfection. The Garcon insisted we taste the lobster stuffed Mac & Cheese as well, which ended up being our favorite.

LA Market by Kerry Simon has a laid-back, welcoming vibe, impeccable service and is recommended for anyone looking for a relaxing view of L.A. LIVE’s central plaza and entertainment district. Also suggested for after dinner drinks is the ION rooftop pool bar. ION, located on the 4th floor of the JW Marriott Los Angeles at L.A. LIVE, is Los Angeles’ hottest new open air. The sophisticated space offers views of the Los Angeles skyline and L.A. LIVE.

- Jonathan Stinson

LA Market by Kerry Simon
900 West Olympic Blvd., 1st Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90015
(213) 765-8630

Bon Appétit & Belvedere Vodka Grub Crawl–Los Angeles brought us on an interactive food tour at the intersection of fame, fortune, and flavor.

We savored food, hung with the most influential chefs, got your hands dirty, rolled up your sleeves, and went behind the scenes of the kitchen—with the chefs—to see where the magic happens.

And to add to the excitement, on Saturday, July 14, Bon Appétit & Belvedere Grub Crawl–Los Angeles  invited us “crawlers” so a stellar music performance by indie band Vacationer at the Roxy.

Belvedere Lemon Tea Vodka, is currently launching in the US. It is the second vodka made into a drink, and we can attest to its value, because we were feeling the love after a few drinks. The drink is distilled using exceptional ingredients including black,green and chamomile teas, lemon, honey, ginger and lemongrass. Check out of few of these recipes that have become a favorite below.

 ~Jae Joseph

Belvedere Lemon Teabreeze

60ml/ 2oz of Belvedere Lemon Tea

60ml/2oz of Coconut water

60ml/2oz of Cloudy apple

(optional apple garnish)

Belvedere Green Goddess Pitcher

5 oz of Belvedere Lemon tea

10 oz of Green tea

3 oz of lemon juice

3 oz of simple syrup

1 bunch mint

Over 500 industry insiders and icons of comedy came out to celebrate “A Night of Comedy,” hosted by Russell Brand, honoring George Shapiro on Saturday evening June 30th at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills. Russell Brand excited the crowd and introduced performances by Sarah Silverman and Garry Shandling, and surprise guests Jerry Seinfeld and Jay Leno hit the stage in recognition of their long-time friend and honoree. Shapiro was presented with the ‘Lifetime of Bliss Award’ from the David Lynch Foundation to commend his all-around lifetime of bliss and contributions to film, comedy and friends.  Shapiro was also saluted with a heart-felt video featuring well-wishes from some of his biggest comedian fans such as: Bob Saget, Regis Philbin, Kelly Ripa, Chris Rock, Jerry Seinfield, Kevin Nealon, etc.

Other celebrity attendees included Michael Cera, a stunning Daphne Guinness, Thomas Jane, Whitney Cummings, Kevin Nealon, B.J. Novak, Carl Reiner, Beth Behrs, Chris D’Elia and more.  Guests enjoyed delicious food stations such as Create-Your-Own Sliders, Custom Coffee, fresh-made Doughnut & Churros, and Sushi n’ Sashimi alongside George’s favorite – Don Julio Tequila.  The classic ballroom was transformed by event designer, YourBASH!, into a comic playground with caricature-filled wall art of George’s fans and foundation supporters as well as centerpieces themed “George’s Favorite Things.”   The centerpieces included “Ice Cream” cake pops, mini sluggers, L.A. Dodgers mini-helmets, a bottle of Don Julio tequila, margarita glasses filled with salt-water taffy, a Porsche beer glass and red converse tennis shoes.

Everyone received a “Let the Bliss Begin” reusable bag filled with David Lynch Signature Organic Coffee, a “Transcendence” book, documentary CD from Mr. Lynch and more.  Good Work(s) Makes a Difference® also donated 1,000 limited-edition, exclusive bracelets for the evening called the “David Lynch Bliss Eco-Wrap” in navy and silver that read ”Let the bliss begin, Change Begins Within.”

All proceeds benefitted the David Lynch Foundation, established in 2005 to provide funds for over 250,000 at-risk adults and children to learn the evidence-based Transcendental Meditation technique, including veterans with PTSD, abused women and children, American Indians and more.

To keep the charity alive CharityBuzz.com (until July 12th 2012) has these incredible prizes for fans who donate to the David Lynch Foundation including: (2) tickets to the taping of a Brand X on FX and meet Russell Brand on set, (2) Ellen DeGeneres Show Tickets, (2) VIP tickets to Stella McCartney’s March 4th show at Fashion week in Paris, a $2,000 gift certificate with personal styling by John Varvatos, (2) tickets to see Jerry Seinfeld perform plus meet Jerry backstage in Las Vegas, (2) VIP tickets to a Taping of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, (4) VIP tickets to the Late Show with David Letterman, David Lynch will read your screenplay and then review it with you in person for 45 minutes in LA, a 1 hour guitar lesson with James McCartney (son of Paul McCartney), (2) VIP passes for a Set Visit to Boardwalk Empire with Martin Scorsese, a personalized signed “Dirty Harry” Poster from Clint Eastwood, and you and a guest will have private yoga and mediation lesson with Russell Simmons, (2) tickets and meet-and greet with Ringo Starr in Nashville, TN, (2) pairs of tickets to Eagles concert in Las Vegas by Joe Walsh, a 45 minute pitching lesson with Barry Zito at USC, (4) box seats and meet and greet at any NY Giants Home Game.

-Jonathan Stinson

“A Night of Comedy” hosted by Russell Brand
Benefitting The David Lynch Foundation
June 30, 2012
The Beverly Wilshire Hotel
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
www.davidlynchfoundation.org
www.charitybuzz.com