Los Angeles 2011 ---->2012 Part Deux

In an attempt to redeem the disappointing Torrance Art Museum visit took a trip to Chinatown L.A> art fix> to find that art had abandoned the place. Hadn't been there since I was a kid.

All the galleries are gone, only tons of empty store fronts. I could only image how dope it was in its hay day, contemporary art  juxtaposed against all the original chinese signage, architecture & history.

Deserted:

But we did find a hold out, this shop called the Flock Shop, got our art fix there:

Chinese Mob secret headquarters:

"Mafia Members Only" is what they really mean:

I could feel the ghosts in this old jazz club, where we drowned our sorrows with grape juice & 7up:

Later that night we went to Universal City Walk. A change of scenery after being in C-town, from the desolate to completely packed tourist trap. But they have a Pinks there so we went for the famous dogs. Quick story from the last time I was there: I think there were like 20 of us, this was back in high school. We stood out, obvious members of a gang. Security rounded us up and sat us down on a curb and systematically photographed and questioned each of us. "Are you guys KP?" "No, man, Jefrox." "What  do you do?" "You know regular gang stuff; hit up the hood, gang bang, kick it." I was pretty dumb. The funny thing was all these tourists were taking pictures of us as if we were props in this fake Hollywood world. They came to L.A. to experience the movies it was famous for and got to see the gangs it was infamous for. And then this army of security personnel escorted us to my moms Ford Aerostar, watched us illegally pack it in like clowns (20 dudes in a minivan) and waited until we drove off.

The next Torry:

New Years Eve went to Thomas and Susans for some lunch:

Then later to Vin and Graces for dinner:

Vin sitting in front of a portrait he dad of his dad (the NY bus driver) - that's Vin 20 years from now:

Then to Korea town for Dessert:

Trip to L.A. 2011-> 2012: Into the New Year, Part Uno

Don't usually fly but sometimes the deals are irresistible: 

My dad is awesome, eats chocolate, fruit, meat, veggies, rice, soup, cereal, cookies all at the same time but doesn't touch the Kimchee - ulcers. But then he works out like Bruce Lee everyday - he's ripped. More ripped than his young son, who's actually chubby at the moment.

My parents for some odd reason have this awesome stein collection above their kitchen cabinet. I never really noticed I think because it was so out of context. Anyhow I'm gonna drink a beer out of each, that's the plan. But then there's that Korean wooden gnome guarding the collection, he says it's cool as long as I share.

Korean moms are tough..

We dropped by the Torrance Civic Center to see the new Torrance Art Museum, yes you heard right, Torrance Art Museum TAMmie for short. I was doubtful but I heard they curate great shows so we went only to be disappointed - "Closed" even though according to the hours posted they should've been open, closed and dusty. This also happens to be the site where I first encountered oil paints @ 13 my mom put me in this class with a bunch of "old" people. They were probably in their 20s and 30s. It's all perspective, I'm old to some junior high kid for sure...

My first oil painting ever, I don't remember who it's of. I do still remember the teacher and the lessons she taught me, I owe her my life.

More Things

Starting young

Sketches, directions and notes from while back home:

 Hair

List of artists to look up later

While in church

Set my crimson tea bag on these directions to Inteligensia Cafe in Silver lake, pen didnt even bleed. Awesome.

Things

what's awesome is that my sister made these pirate costumes for halloween but what even more awesome is my dad made sure there was clear indication that the sword is plastic.

As seen on TV. My sister has the amish heater, it actually works really well. 

Old stick I found, has written on it: Jefrox Gangsters-->Greedy, Moreno, Lil Oso, Tweety. Greedy was killed. 

RIP Greedy