Hair

I finally got myself the long-awaited haircut. And believe me when I say that it is drastic! After six years of spray and hair stress, the locks were trimmed at Umberto in Beverly Hills. The stylist had to walk me through it step by step. Every cut got the same scrutiny my Mum had to deal with for all those years. But I have to say I am quite pleased with the end result.

It’s… very short, nerdy, punk, London, and at times I look like a five year old boy (don’t know if that is going to be to my advantage or not). I don’t have any pictures yet – still getting used to it myself – but when the time is right, and I am ready for everyone’s opinion, you’ll get to see… the Hair.

Dim Mak

I called on Kenny G again to get me on the house list of one of Hollywood’s hotspots, Dim Mak Tuesdays at Cinespace. Everyone here has been warning me about the Hollywood clubs – overhyped, snobby, and expensive – but I didn’t see any of that and totally dug it. I have found my Café Capital-equivalent! Same hipster crowd that goes wild on nu-rave and electro beats.






The party started on an intimately small dancefloor, but later moved to the back, with lounge area seats facing the stage. The Black Eyed Peas – minus Fergie – were there and Will.I.Am was asked on stage. First he was the only one on there, beatboxing to the music, then some girls joined him and in the end, everyone had grouped around the DJ and the stage was packed. I must say it is quite the experience to stand jumping on a stage with a sweaty Will.I.Am five inches from your face.

Santa Monica, take 2

I had such a great time at the beach Friday that I went back for more and stayed till sunset. I’ve never been the sand-and-sea-loving kind, but I have to admit that the whole beach culture is sucking me in. But seriously, tell me what beats this…

Westwood

Did some sightseeing around Westwood Village today, the home of U.C.L.A. As one of the Public Ivy schools, it’s no wonder it is so large and spread out. So many research facilities, libraries and campus yards, all in the same minimalistic, Seventies architecture.



Also saw Marilyn Monroe’s grave. Nothing more really than a marble nametag on a wall, but luckily I had my guide Steve with me who knew to tell me that Hugh Hefner has reserved the spot next to her… yeah yeah, we get it that you are eternally grateful to her for those nudie pics that got your magazine off the ground.



This old man, spending Sunday afternoon at his wife’s grave, caught my lense. The photo has both a sad and sweet quality to it.



Burial grounds are always a plethora of things: spooky, confronting, spiritual, saddening,… yes, even those in the sun! I might go back to Westwood to visit the National Cemetery; fields and fields of white crosses, honoring fallen soldiers.

Robyn at The Wiltern

It was in all the papers. Metromix and LA Weekly ranked her among the performance highlights of the week, but I didn’t expect much, even though a friend of mine had seen her in Belgium and was blown away. I liked her cd, but not enough to go watch her. It may have been the cheap $20 ticket fee that won me over in the end. And I have to say I was more than pleasantly suprised. She even made me forget she was two hours late and that the warm-up band kinda sucked.








This was great entertainment. And the crowd clearly felt that too. Two Mexican dudes next to me hadn’t even heard of her before the concert, but in the end were jumping along to ‘Be Mine!’ and ‘Who’s That Girl?’. The feisty, petite Swede sure knows how to work a crowd. The right energy that so needs to be there for a concert to work, was indisputably here. And then of course, there was this:



And yes, they were both walking/dancing/DJ’ing around over there.

Von Dutch lives!

One of Steve’s highschool friends – now going by the name of Kenny G – is a pretty well-known event organizer in Hollywood and he put us on the list for a house party in the Hills. Operation U.S.A. had teamed up with Von Dutch (yes, I know, so over!) for an event to raise awareness for the tragedy in Burma. Some Hollywood B-listers showed up: Eric Balfour, Bill Maher, Mia Kirshner… and this was what it looked like:












Coolio had a good deal going: his restaurant was catering the event and he got to do a little performance (awful, by the way!).












Arty atmosphere, beautiful people, nighttime views over the city, open bar… s-weat!

Santa Monica

Friday… Weekend… Beach, here I come! After Venice last week, it was time for a visit to touristy Santa Monica. Most of the tourists don’t leave the Pier or the Third Street Promenade – one of the city’s most popular shopping veins – so the beach was all mine…





















Am I the only one who thinks sea gulls are just as scary as pigeons? This huge one came up to me on a practically deserted beach, took on its position only five feet away and stood there, staring at me…

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Some people were wondering how to comment on the posts on this blog. Well, you just have to click on the post’s title, which will take you to a new screen. There, at the bottom you will find a box to add your comment… Hope to read you soon!

Commerce at the Grove

The Grove and the Farmer’s Market “on the corner of 3rd and Fairfax” have this weird attraction on me. With its typical American retail stores, white house fronts and fountains, The Grove is nothing more than a shopping mall in Disneyworld disguise. There is even a little fun train riding through the streets, for Pete’s sake! And still I can’t help but like it. So fake and contrived, yet so charming. The Farmer’s Market is more authentic and has more history behind it, but it grew from the same principle. A bunch of foreign food shops thrown together for commercial success.

Luckily, I have no problem with being commercial and so I have thrown myself on everything that I had heard of before, but never had the pleasure of sampling. So far, I have tried out Kentucky Fried Chicken, Taco Bell, Jack in the Box, El Pollo Loco, and every possible Mexican dish (still, can’t tell the difference between taco, burrito and fajitas though). And I am hooked on Starbucks, Pop-Tarts, Jell-O, Cheerios and Popsicles.

I’ve also raided stores all over town of the Gap, Club Monaco, Marc Jacobs and Abercrombie & Fitch (yes, the people who work there are really that beautiful!), and practically spent a whole month’s rent… US rent that is, of course. You gotta love that weak dollar!

French sundays

Steve’s girlfriend, Julie is originally from French-speaking Canada and every Sunday a group of them gather at Venice beach to play volleyball and keep their language alive. I hadn’t really had the time to go to the beach yet, so I joined her. Though I did not always understand everything they were saying – let’s keep it at speaking too fast – it was interesting to hear how they all ended up in Los Angeles… where everyone has a story to tell.