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The veil has been lifted on the city’s beach-side, 17,000 square foot skate park. Designed by the famed Wormhoudt Inc. skate park company, the park should be completed in the next year. More pictures available on skatepark.com
Jim “The Beast” Marquez reading from his latest book “L.A. Bitch IV” at the “L.A. Bitch IV DVD” release party last Friday night. The DVD is a slide show of Downtown life with words written and read by Jim Marquez, photography by Rick Mendoza, and paintings by Carl Ramsey. The DVD was produced by Dale Youngman and Gail Zone.
Having thoroughly enjoyed the candid, outspoken and poetic style of Jim Marquez’ “PG 13″ book – in Jim’s own words – “East L.A. Collage,” I was looking forward to hearing The Beast unleashed in “L.A. Bitch IV.” Since the show, I’ve started reading his X rated tales. As disturbingly real and graphic as Jim gets, his heart is the leading force behind his unnerving depictions whether he rants against or achingly needs his fellow mortals as in “After the reading” (see excerpts below,) an undeniable proof that Marquez has mastered the art of the short story and is right to have moved on to writing his first novel. If I were you I would get a copy of his self-published books fast; in my opinion Marquez has already transcended his beginnings as an “East L.A. writer” to possibly become one of the most authentic recorders of our 21st American century.
“I should’ve been happy after the reading and signing of my latest book: big crowd, standing room only, college girls sitting on the floor and gazing up at me like I was the Mexican-Charles-fucking-Bukowski himself, but something was off…” Jim Marquez, “After the reading”
Paintings by Carl Ramsey.
“The booze flowed well, it always does when I read, and I read the fuck out of the material; freaked everybody out and even surprised myself with the ferocity and rage in which the words exploded off my tongue.”
Downtowner and “Bathroom Graffiti” author Mark Ferem with whom I got to sip iced coffee before the show. During our animated conversation, which I hope to continue with Mark soon and share with my readers, Mark waved and smiled at a friend across the street. “It’s Gronk,” he said. I grinned. How cool was that! Above him are paintings by Eric Jones from the Dale Youngman’s gallery’s closing exhibit: “Father.”
Owl Drugs ~ Figueroa at Avenue 57 ~ Highland Park ~ CA
Seen at the Hungry Pocket, 1715 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica.
Venice ~ CA
I had a feeling when the Venice Walls became regulated last summer, it was a step towards closing them down entirely. Sure enough, now there seems there is not enough money in the coffers to keep the regulation program running and rumors abound of a possible closing in mid-July. Recently, some heavy hitters from our area’s best crews have been hitting the walls, hopefully not for the last time.
This CRE8 piece was one of the cleanest things I’ve ever laid my eyes on. Some ass-heads went over it that night.
Daglas Drive-In ~ 20036 Vanowen St. Canoga Park, CA 91306
I’ll make this short and sweet…I was driving around Canoga Park, and found this random place on Vanowen close to Winnetka. I generally don’t trust these small burger places to be good so I looked around and saw everyone eating these large portions of fries…so I had to check it out. Fries were FUCKING awesome. They tasted fresh cut, fried just right with seasoned salt. The chicken breast burger was OK…I read other reviews touting the Pastrami so I’ll have to try that next. But if you are in the valley craving fries, pass up the McD and check this place out. Daglas; “Where Every Day Is Fry Day!”
