OK, imagine that you are between the ages of 13 and 17. Now, as you stroll into the beautiful Ojai grounds which include a skatepark, human foosball field, rock climbing wall, ping pong tables, and frisbee golf course, with unlimited supply of red bull you think “I’ve died and gone to heaven.” And those are just the peripherals. The reason you are there is to learn all there is to know about the dark art of DJ-ing.
Camp Spin-Off, the DJ camp for tweens and teens returns to Southern California August 1-5, 2011. This ultimate summer camp, founded by DJ Tina T. in 2010, unites aspiring young DJs from across the country with some of the industry’s top players. This year, famed DJ Steve Aoki and Dim Mak Records will award one deserving future DJ a scholarship to camp.
Multiplayer, the inaugural art show at Gallery 1988 in Venice, took poster submissions from some 30 artists inspired by the video games of now and yore. Aided by curators OMG Posters! 1988 turned their new home base into a gamers Louvre. The talent within spanned from seasoned artists like Eric Tan, a PIXAR collaborator and Mike Mitchell, who designed the “I’m with Coco” poster, to freelancers Adam Hanson and Markku Metso.
Just down the street from The Roxy Theatre, Talésai on The Sunset Strip has been dishing out tasty Thai cuisine to notoriously picky L.A. palates for nearly 30 years. Family owned and operated since the beginning, the restaurant is now expanding on their recipe for success and opening a neighboring “sister space”, serving up simple yet delectable street food.
The vision of chef/owner Kris Yenbamroong, Night + Market delivers a menu of Thai tapas in a unique gallery like setting. Having practically grown up in the restaurant’s kitchen, the chef has been cooking almost as long as he’s been able to hold a fork. “I’ve always been a fan of food that tastes amazing and isn’t fussy. I want everything on the plate to be essential to the dish, so that means no garnish, or fluff. That’s what street food is; it’s one thing that tastes really good and maybe one other element, like a condiment.”
For the full article, go To theroxyonsunset.com
Sunday I sun screened, loaded up my ‘concert purse,’ stocked up on carbs and headed to the Sunset Junction. As I walked through the gates, I stumbled right into a mini techno fest with DJs spinning and girls dancing on the Electro Stage. After bouncing from stage to stage, I settled in at the Bates Stage for Girl in a Coma. I’d never seen them play before but was intrigued by a mixture of things I have heard about the trio and the fact that they are named after a Smith’s song. It was a bit angry chick rock at times but I liked it overall. The singer has powerful vocals and it was refreshing to see female guitar players rock out on stage. They played Static Mind, which was a catchy tune and then chose Femme Fatale for the encore. The crowd was filled with stylish-haired hipsters, many proudly equipped with Girl in a Coma merch. After the set, a festival attendee turned to her friend and said, “Wow! That was tight.”
Camp Spin-Off (Aug. 1st-5th) will bring together 50 boys and girls between the ages of 12 and 17 with the common passion and desire to learn the art of being a DJ. The program is designed to bring all the elements of the DJ culture together in an outdoor environment. Campers are not only immersed in the culture but also experience an action packed week of traditional camp activities with their favorite DJ role models. The DJ community is unique in that, the “pioneers” of the art form are still alive. Some of these very pioneers are scheduled to make appearances during the duration of camp. Confirmed heavy hitter DJ and music industry involvement includes but is not limited to, DJ Kevin Scott, DJ Spider, DJ Enrie, and DJ Scene. Famed DJ Hapa will be teaching instructional DJ courses. Camp Spin-Off aims to give access to not only these pioneers, but also the proper DJ instruction and equipment, paired with a team-building environment in the great outdoors!
When we pulled onto the freeway in Indio, California, you could almost hear a collective exhale from inside the car. It had been a long trip. While the premise sounded idyllic — deserts! Palm trees! Swimming pools & music festivals! — the reality had turned out to be a joyless romp through an artificially lush playground for senior citizens. Harsh, I know, but unfortunately, true.
On our way to Coachella, we had passed signs on the I-10 promising some of the best designer shopping on the West Coast. I had pawed at the window desperately, but my intrepid editor, ever responsible & on-task, had kept her foot firmly on the throttle. (Things to do, places to go, enormous lines of traffic to sit in!) This time, heading in the opposite direction, it wasn’t such a hard sell. We practically left half our tread at the off-ramp, we were so excited.
After all, what could make the transition from the Californian desert to Los Angeles easier than some much-needed retail therapy at http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=6 With a slew of stores ranging from Barneys to Bottega Veneta, Dior to Dolce & Gabbana, & Ralph Lauren to Rock & Republic, we knew it was going to be a good time.
Upon first glance, The Bunny Museum might not seem out of place in an old Twilight Zone episode: Nestled in a quiet Pasadena suburb, the 1928 Spanish-stucco house is owned by a pair of rabid (ha!) though all-too-human rabbit aficionados–and not by giant hind-legged ambassadors of a planet of bunnies who greet their earthling visitors cheerily while they keep a steaming vat of human stew simmering in the back.
Though I was a bit alarmed when I tried to shake hands with owner Candace Frazee, who insisted cheerfully that “We don’t shake hands here at the Bunny Museum. Instead there’s the ‘Bunny Bump.’” For the layperson, this means a peace sign, or bunny ears, and then a traditional ‘knuckle’ fist bump.
As I surveyed the house, I found myself at a loss for words: It’s like one of those foam pits you used to see in a gymnastics or P.E. class, except it is FILLED WITH THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF BUNNIES.