Bookstore shelves practically sag under the weight of every tome published on the art of graffiti. Nothing tells the story as beautifully or fully as the epic Graffiti L.A., released last year by author and photographer Steve Grody, who has been shooting walls in Nuestra Señora since 1990. The full color pictures are stunning, while Grody details the basics of the art form for the curious, simultaneously exalting it as the important evolution in painting that it is. He also gives voice to some of the city’s best to speak for themselves on long-ranging debates about style, technique, mediums, and what makes an artist a graf artist. Plus, it finally gives L.A. writers the props for pioneering, innovation, and progression that is deserved.

Bravo Mr. Grody, we can’t wait to see what’s next. And we gotta know, what’s your favorite taco?

Steve Grody: “Thanks for the support! Though it’s hardly an obscure spot, Senor Fish at 1st and Alameda is a regular save-my-ass when I”m hungry place. I most often get the seafood burrito, but also the seafood quesadilla or omelet.”

We’ve been slacking on our coverage of local gentlemen with exceptional facial hair, as a reader recently let us know in no uncertain terms. Specifically, last summer Los Angeles’ own Alex Antebi won first prize in the Imperial Mustache category of the World Beard Championships in Brighton, England. A belated congratulations to Alex and his mustache on a job well done.

Villa, one of those Hollywood fleece joints where they let celebrities in free and get dumb rich dudes to plunk down major silver for the privilege to feel privileged, shot down one of LA’s greatest residents at the door last night. The assholes at the door either didn’t recognize our didn’t realize that Ronny Turiaf is the heart and soul of our town’s greatest team. In any case, Ronny’s too good for ‘em anyway.

Lysa Flores ~ 02/01/2008 ~ Eastside Luv ~ Photo by M. Avelar

Star Trek The Tour ~Queen Mary Dome

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Blogmeister Tony Pierce of the LA Times has scored a major coup– Kareem Abdul Jabbar is blogging on the Times website. We wanted Kareem to blog at LA Taco but apparently the Times had the inside track; we’re just glad he’s doing stuff on the web. Besides being one of the greatest basketball players of all time, Kareem is a noted historian, author, LA legend, and all-around amazing person. So far his blog is focusing on sports, black history, music, and politics. It rules, and so does Kareem.

Kareem and Bruce Lee