This weekend I…
Archive | August, 2009
In The Thick Of It
18 Aug
Last week, the marine layer refused to move, hovering over the city like bad smog. From atop the eighth floor of the parking garage at The Grove, nothing looks more ominous than toasted clouds caught in the hills. However, with the dense mist, there is a genial quiet and the smothered city sound is comforting.
The Reality Obsessed
17 Aug
This is Murtz Jaffer. He is the host of Canada’s half-hour television show titled Reality Obsessed. As explained by the Reality Obsessed website,
“each episode of Reality Obsessed has Murtz on the hunt for answers to a particular ‘big picture’ question in the realm of reality television. He’ll explore how reality cameras affect the outcome of a complete geek hooking up with a hot babe; how casting directors find the perfect mix of angels and monsters for the next big hit, or what happens after contestants’ 15 minutes of fame are up? It’s a full blown celebration of everything reality!”
He is also, as The New York Times reports, “regarded as the world’s foremost reality television expert because of his ability to predict, analyze and map out how programs will go.” This is why Murtz is famous. For someone with his own Wikipedia page, a long journalistic resume, and star power he’s pretty nice, and a particularly gracious host.
This is what happens when you order bottle service.
This is area – the club meant to look like a modern mid-century, Andy Warhol loving, living room. As if you’ve walked into your own trippy apartment renovated with bars, coruscating neon beacons, wooden tabletops, wooden ceilings and tables, plus lots of girls (guys had a tough time getting past the doorman – want to order a bottle? You’ll have to make it two). Par for the course, on the left you’ve got ass-cleavage, low-tops and slinky dresses – all shaking it out on the dance floor to the beat of hip-hop and remixed pop hits and looking for the closest table with a bottle – and on the right, mixed drinks at $12+ a pop from the cute blond bartenders.
We decide to head to the back room. A small and unimpressive space (compared to the flashing lights and booming music just outside the door) that looks like my parents basement circa 1989 – with better wallpaper.
Turns out it was Murtz’ birthday (or around that time), and so everyone signed his banner.
I expected obsessed fans/reality star pandemonium; fans were not stalking outside waiting for their favorite reality stars, but there were several winners from past reality seasons (Real World, Survivor, Amazing Race) and one fan named Ziggy.
Murtz said his goodbye’s and so did our friends. With that, it was time to turn in.
12:30am, On the road again.
CNN
17 Aug
This is CNN. At night CNN keeps the televisions going – casting passerbys in dark silhouettes against the incandescent transmission. Homeless men and women often sleep/eat/sit here for hours.
For me, CNN represents the more serious aspects of life, and a harder and professional edge that reminds me of New York, and I imagine I am there.
Illustration: Summer
13 Aug
The best thing about L.A. early summer mornings – the marine layer (fog) has crept up, it’s cool, it’s quiet and hummingbirds flighting through trees.
Hummingbirds were unexpected. I grew up with them, seeing them among Aspen trees and dense pines, but in California? In L.A.? In the city? You may as well tell me Unicorns are kept at the zoo – a hummingbird seems an exceptional and incompatible companion to the urban city.
Just Some Sleep
7 Aug
This weekend is all about the fluffy pillows and twelve hours in bed, hopefully all spent dreaming in REM. We have kept the dog. The dog is cute, and cuddly, and exciting and bite-y. He will have to be trained, but he is the best bit of scruff that’s crossed my path in years and I fully embrace this 6am walking, sometimes house-broken, chasing cars, thirteen pound wonder. But I am not sleeping and so today I’ve arrived tired and anxious for the day to be over; I hope that everyone has a great weekend!!
This coming Friday, I’ll be inundating you with pics of reality tv stars in a little event known as “Murtzfest,” featuring its’ reality tv super-fan host Murtz and a legion of reality tv showsters – because he’s such a megafan they gave him his own series.
Laters!
NO SAINTS IN L.A. 