I LOVE LOS ANGELES

The title is in all-caps just to get it out of the way. I am back in New York, at my desk, sifting through what feels like a million-billion emails, drinking a cup of tea and trying to shake off a wicked vacation hangover. Los Angeles was absolutely lovely, and it gets better every time I go.

Everything was deliriously cheap, museums were never crowded, and the weather was positively life-affirming. I particularly enjoyed spending as much time as possible at the magical corner on Melrose where Urth Cafe (the Spanish Latte is habit-forming), Aunt Vi's Garden, and the Bodhi Tree bookstore intersect.

I had a marvelous dinner with Mark Sarvas in Santa Monica, home of my new favorite bookshop, Hennessey + Ingalls. I went back the next day and found a book on the bargain shelf about living by the sea, that includes lots of pictures of the Parisian houseboats I adore, (in French) for three dollars. I also checked out Bergamot Station, and totally began to understand exactly why it is people find Santa Monica so bewitching.

Also wonderful, I saw my "fake cousin" for the second time in three months (and fifteen years). Our fathers were best friends in college but we didn't see each other much after my parents got divorced. He is really terrific, and so, so cool. And Bryan was fantastic on his latest television appearance. I gave him the joke that made Dennis Miller laugh, so that was extra fab.

I saw some gorgeous art at the Hammer Museum, the Natural History Museum, the Santa Monica Museum of Art, and the Getty, lots of great architecture, had a fantastic conversation regarding an upcoming project, enjoyed more sunshine than I've seen in New York in a year, spent time with funny, smart people, and ate more In-and-Out burgers "protein-style" than is perhaps advisable.

But it was a vacation (of sorts), and it was all fabulous.

More later on specific topics, like an enchanting shade of blue (sort of Yves Klein-ish) that I noticed in paintings by Odilon Redon, some new jewelry design I like, a few photos I took (of street art and antiquities, mostly), and other news.

Comments

[snail]

I thought I had died and gone to heaven when my wife and I found Hennessey + Ingalls on a trip to LA. We found an art book by Junko Mizuno that is just great. Did you get a chance to visit sixspace gallery? I will visit LA in April and I look forward to taking advantage of the gallery list on art.blogging.la.
I watched Bryan Keefer on the DM show and thought he was funny. It must be strange to go on a show and have just enough time to say about 50 words before the whole thing is over. I didn’t think the black shirt with a lighter colored suit jacket that David Horowitz was wearing worked very well.

[Editor]

I didn't make it to sixspace, although it was on my list of things to do. art.blogging.la is a terrific resource -- that's where I got the tip on the "Conversation" show at the Natural History Museum, which turned out to be my favorite exhibition experience on this trip, and it also led me to check out the enjoyable show of new sculpture by LA artists at the Hammer Museum.

The Dennis Miller taping was lots of fun, and Bryan shares your perspective about the stranger aspects of television appearances. Your wardrobe observations: also dead-on. Bryan's tie was a late addition, as he brought something else to wear but then saw that Armani tie and just had to get it. Television really does require another wardrobe entirely... I couldn't believe how much feedback he got after he wore a (admittedly rather psychedelic) Pucci tie on the Daily Show, which generally, women loved and men hated.

And yes, Hennessey + Ingalls is heaven on earth! Agreed, agreed, agreed.

-Lauren