L.A., in context
Until recently, I’d pretty much spent my entire life avoiding Los Angeles, and only within a few years ago did I begin to develop an interest in visiting the city. I once rode through it– towards Anaheim en route to Disneyland, my mother cursing traffic, my face pressed against the glass trying to catch glimpses of the Hollywood sign. I even camped in Malibu ten years later– and again, never actually spent time within. Oddly, I made my first ‘real’ visit at the end of January this year, and I’ve stopped in another 5 times since.
I don’t have too much more to say about the city in general other than its actually proven to be a really amazing place in spite of the classic, and very present stereotypes that surround it.
See some some photos from the first of my visits.
Milan II
I don’t think I would have had nearly as much fun without my faithful steward Carlo, who I first made friends with in ‘05 when I was living in Barcelona and reconnected last year when he moved to NYC.
Caffe Novecento
Everything style-wise seems generally more interesting in Europe, case in point– Carhartt. The jacket in the window is a recently released collaboration with EYE- Comme Des Garçons.
Subway espresso! I’m waiting for these to start popping up in NYC… they would surely make a killing.
Bar Atomic– sort of reminded me of places in Portland.
I kept asking Carlo to take me to a rather unique and locals only type of place. ‘Trattoria Bar’ certainly fit the bill, with crazy art on the walls and the whole place run by this old lady… she was also the waitress and chef– it was kindof like eating at your crazy Milanese grandmother’s. Really amazing.. try finding that shit in a guidebook!
Some beautiful looking apartment.. I suppose the photo doesn’t quite do it justice, but I’ll post it for memory and feelings sake.
The last stop of the night was at Plastik Club. Apparently the night to go is Sunday when the DJ plays a free-for-all mix of tunes, and everyone gets loose. Luckily it was Sunday, and that was basically what happened..
I just flew to Milan, more or less on a whim– a trip lasting two days, followed by another day in London.. then back to NYC. Then to Dallas the following day. Crazy right? Honestly, it was totally worth it. A great, albeit quick trip. Flying in really set the tone with spectacular aerial views of the Italian Alps. Landing in Malpensa meant a 45 minute train ride into the city, luckily there were more spectacular views.. this time of satanic graffiti! Got busy right away with a tasty lunch at 10 Corso Como with Diane. For being so on point, they dropped the ball really hard after delivering the wrong black amex (of a certain well known Japanese fashion buyer) at our table as we prepared to pay our bill.. It was pretty funny to us though. How we roll– our buddy Marco’s vintage Mini-Cooper. This picture makes the interior look pretty big. Being that it was fashion week, we made sure to hit some bad fashion parties. Actually, they weren’t all that bad, but certainly tested our patience in terms its overabundance of crowded dance floor shoving and sleazy Italian dudery (I’m sure you can define that). The next day Diane played on a TV show. Its called “Quelli che il calcio” and is pretty much based around Football… the whole thing was pretty confusing, honestly.
Its widely known that Detroit went from one of the most thriving cities in the world to a dismal shadow of its former self. Through the 60s, the city virtually imploded following disintegrating race relations, rioting, and white flight. Following, an influx of heroin and crack, resulting in elevated levels of violent crime– amongst the highest ratings in the United States.
At this point the city is about half what its population was in the 50s (around 1.8 million at that time), and urban planners and developers are seeking to shrink the city’s largely abandoned (an estimated 80% of buildings are abandoned in urban Detroit) historic center as a way to revive it.
Here are some images I took the last time I stopped in. The best way to describe a place like this, based on outsider observation and general feeling, is that its like a haunted house– but its a whole city.
Interview Magazine had their 40th Anniversary party last night at some new space (formally a YMCA, I believe) at the Hudson Hotel. Made me wish I was there for the mag’s first anniversary party..
For the Who’s Who, go here
