More Than Meets the Eye

DSCN4917.JPG, originally uploaded by savemejebus.

Bumblebee is not a Bug!

When Bowling Was King

Curbed LA posted this YouTube video yesterday, a mini profile of Chris Nichols who just published a book on Bob’s Big Boy architect Wayne McAllister. He’s been a leader in preserving and saving mid-century modern structures as former president of the LA Conservancy’s Modern Committee.

It’s a nice little piece on Chris, but it’s doubly interesting because it features very briefly Covina Bowl. There are very few structures in Covina now that vividly evoke the city’s years of rapid growth from orange groves to suburban living. Those still standing have fallen into disrepair, while most have been razed and in their place stucco buildings have gone up. Covina Bowl still stands, but I continually think it won’t last either. Inside it’s not in the best shape even though its pyramid entrance is still a striking design element. Nowadays there are more “fun” bowling alleys to go to (Lucky Strike?) but Covina Bowl is a reminder of the days when bowling was at its most popular. It wasn’t just for kids, teenagers with nowhere else to go before their curfew is up, or the parents who were dragged there. Everyone went bowling!

As evidence of what Covina Bowl was like fifty years ago, just check out one of my favorite slides from Charles Phoenix. This woman is enjoying some fine dining at Covina Bowl.

Song of the Week: "Small Planet"

Download: Ferraby Lionheart - "Small Planet"

Even at my advanced age I still harbor a faint dream of becoming a musician. First, though, I'll have to learn an instrument, and with that in mind, I asked my sister to buy me a ukulele while she was in Hawaii last week for our cousin's wedding. Still, I'm not deluded enough to think that it will come true, but there's nothing wrong with fantasizing.

Had I enough talent to become a musician I would like to think that the songs I write will sound just like Ferraby Lionheart's (that name!). Warm, witty, dreamy and heartfelt, Lionheart's EP was the soundtrack to the last holiday season, and it is with great eagerness that I anticipate his first full length, Catch the Brass Ring, which will be released on September 4.

This week's song--"Small Planet"--comes from that upcoming LP. It may not be the best song of Mr. Lionheart's ouvre but it is representative of his bemused viewpoint on love and heartbreak. In it he tries to persuade his One and Only to be his one and only. It's not an original theme but Lionheart handles it with an arresting sincerity that sidesteps being cloying and provides some originality in expressing the sentiment. "This planet's small enough for two" is the freshest variation I've heard of saying that there's someone out there for you.

If there's any sense in the music world, Ferraby Lionheart would be the It troubadour of 2007. It won't be long!

New York Times Wedding Announcement of the Week: SPECIAL EDITION

Ceremony, originally uploaded by savemejebus.

This week, rather than pick a couple from the New York Times I know absolutely nothing about, I am going to select the wedding of two folks I actually know, the marriage of my friends Lisa and Paul.

On Friday evening, Lisa and Paul were married in a hilltop ceremony overlooking the vastness that is the Inland Empire. It was a small, lovely wedding. I was worried I would be sweating bullets in my suit but thankfully the temperature cooled down and the canopy of trees over us provided enough shelter to make for a comfortable ceremony—at least it was for me. I don’t know about Lisa and Paul.

I’ve known Lisa since the fifth grade—twenty years, practically. She was our spelling bee champion two years in a row. I was considered a favorite but tedious rules did me in. We didn’t really keep in touch during the college years but we both had our friend Preeti to keep us informed of what was going on with the other. After college I heard from Preeti that Lisa was dating a guy who worked at the same law school she did. I made a mental note of it and went about slaving away at my accounting job.

A few months later, Lisa’s law school was assigned to me as a client. I was excited because it meant I get to see Lisa after almost five years. The lead partner and I took the CFO and controller of the law school to lunch before the engagement was to start. As we waited to be served, the CFO began teasing the controller about a “girl” he was dating from the law school. Right away I thought about what Preeti had told me about Lisa, but I didn’t mention her name. They could have been talking about someone else and at that point I wasn’t even sure exactly what Preeti had told me, so I said nothing and decided to verify.

As it turned out the controller was the one that Lisa was seeing, which meant I would be working closely with him. I wondered whether the connection was something that might be problematic to the audit, but since I really didn’t know him other than the fact that he was dating an old schoolmate, I stayed on. It wasn’t the easiest audit. In fact it was close to a mess, but getting to see Lisa and getting to know Paul made it worthwhile. I was auditing the law school when 9/11 happened, so I guess you could say that we all went through a lot. Lisa was stuck back east because of all the grounded flights and trying to get her home was an ordeal.

In any event, I’ve gotten to know both of them since then, and I’m happy to see them married all these years later. The strange thing about my interest in the New York Times wedding announcements is that I generally don’t like listening to wedding stories or looking at wedding pictures of people other than my friends. In fact I don’t think I really believe in the institution of marriage now. What interests me about the NY Times wedding announcements is finding out how two people found each other. I suppose it has something to do with me still searching for someone—anyone. In any event, Lisa and Paul’s wedding was a wonderful and inspiring thing to witness and it—just like reading the NY Times wedding announcements every Sunday—provides some hope that it’s not a futile search.

Extreme Court

I just glanced over the front page of the New York Times and the list of Supreme Court rulings on there is scary and sad. The most disappointing decision is the one that just about gutted the Endangered Species Act. It really isn't surpring, though. What really is sad is the fact that the decisions are all following ideological lines. It's officially a conservative court, so I'm sure there will be challenges very soon to some heated issues.

Si, See Sea Wolf!

I won tickets to Sea Wolf's show last night at the Echo, so I had the opportunity to see them again for the fourth time (or is it fifth?).

As a frontman, Alex Brown Church has grown more comfortable in the role. Where in his earlier performances he looked awkward and aloof, Church seemed more at ease last night, even bantering a little with the crowd. The set, too, has evolved. I recall being a little bored the first time I saw them because the songs were predominantly slow and acoustic. Sea Wolf is by no means a hard rocking band now, but they now have a more diverse set that includes more faster-paced songs, providing Church and his bandmates an opportunity to let loose. Still, the moddy, heart-on-sleeve, sad-sack songs are still Sea Wolf's best assets, andy dispersing them throughout, the set progressed well. Of course they capped off their set with "You're a Wolf" and returned for a two-song encore that included "Black Dirt," a highlight of the evening.

And, after messing up the lyrics to "Middle Distance Runner" the last two times I saw them, Church finally ran through the song with no slip-ups.

Dinner at Monty's

Monty's, originally uploaded by BlueAlgae.

I have never lived in Pasadena, but I still feel like it's my second home and as such I'm fully aware of Monty's place as a beloved restaurant. As a building it's not much to look at, and the interior is only slightly more inviting, but the food--I heard-- was something else. It has been on my list of places to eat, but I've been saving it for a special day since it is a bit pricey.

When news hit that Monty's will be closing this Saturday, though, I mobilized the TNT crew and we made reservations for dinner last night. Our check was huge, but I think everyone enjoyed their meals. I sure did. The NY cut I ordered was juicy and cooked to perfection. I could have ordered another one. I'm not a fan of baked potato, but the one at Monty's--dressed tableside--is quite good. Even dessert was good. The bread pudding was the best I've ever had.

Good food, good friends, a good night. I'm sorry that I only had this one chance to eat at Monty's, but I'll surely remember it. There is a location in Woodland Hills, though, so if I ever crave bread pudding again I can trek over there.

Farewell, Monty's!

New York Times Wedding Announcement of the Week

I love to run, so it was a no-brainer to select a couple that emphasized marathon training as part of their courtship.

Yun Cho and Peter Lyons

Admittedly I started running with the hopes that I'd meet someone through it, and while I've met plenty of people, I have yet to land a date because of it. Almost three years later, hundreds--if not thousands--of dollars spent on shoes, gear, registration fees, hotel and travel, all I have to show are medals and bibs in a plastic bag. I guess I'm healthier than I've ever been, but I'd gladly trade a little of it for some action.

Back to our couple. Running wasn't how they met, but it did seem to unite them together. Ms. Cho and Mr. Lyons had known each other for twenty years but never got beyond the "acquaintance" phase. Years of bumping into each other finally led to a date, then love. Mr. Lyons proposed during a training run for a half marathon. Ms. Cho's reaction, though, is a bit telling.

“I had absolutely no idea it was coming,” she said. “Who proposes when you’re going on a run?”

Is she unhappy with how he proposed? Would she rather have done it on DiamondVision at Yankee Stadium? I'm probably taking it out of context. She's just emphasizing how unexpected the proposal was. It's not the most extravagant proposal, but it's certainly thoughtful and effective in surprising her.

Congratulations!

I'm Rusty

The Buried Car 2, originally uploaded by digihuman.

The Buried Car of Tulsa emerged from its vault rusty, a disappointing outcome. I imagined it being unearthed looking very much as it did in 1957--nothing that a little dusting won't fix. Unfortunately water had seeped into its vault and kept it submerged for many years. Instead of a new, vintage car, the Plymouth Belvedere is a rusty relic.

No word yet on who won the prize. If I did I'd keep it. It's still a wonderful car with a wonderful story behind it.

If we were to bury a car to be unearthed fifty years from now, what would it be?

Grab Your Pitchforks!

Pitchfork has it in for Cold War Kids. Unfortunately I did criticize the Kids' cover of "A Change Is Gonna Come" the first time I heard it at the El Rey show as pointing out a gap in genuine soul in their music. Still, I'm quite appreciative of their music and enjoy it very much. I have problems with it, but they are talented and quite entertaining to behold.