sha in LA

the race is on

No time to blog these days as I'm in full prep mode for the City Race Urban Adventure happening tomorrow morning. This will be a re-match from the race last October between my winning team the Downtown Dwellers and the 2 angelic Angelenic boys.

My confidence level on winning again is very low as we have some stiff competition. But we're not in it for the bragging rights, we're doing it for the sheer joy of running around the city for 2 hours like a complete lunatic and hopefully learning something in the process....at least that's what I keep telling myself.

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Colori Kitchen

In the newly created and ongoing saga of my life outside the theatre, I now present you with What I Did...on my first Friday of freedom.

I have been bugging Neon Boy and The Gentrifier about checking out Colori Kitchen for oh, I don't know, maybe 3 months. The one problem being that dinner hours for the restaurant are somewhat limited to nights when I have shows....Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Not so last night, so we decided to check it out.

We arrived just a smidge before 8pm and were able to get seated immediately, the place was packed but they were able to shove two tables together to accommodate us. That was nice. The restaurant is tucked into a little storefront along 8th just a few steps from the Golden Gopher. The interior is inviting with brick walls, dim lighting, an open kitchen and an atmosphere that is decidedly not Los Angeles. I kept feeling as if I were in another city, like San Francisco or Seattle.

We perused the menu, came up with our selections and then were promptly shot down when 2 of the requested items on the specials menu were already sold out. That was a bummer but ultimately a blip on the radar as everything else was incredibly delicious. For starters we all shared a bowl of Tortilla Soup that was "lick the bowl clean" amazing. Now mind you, prior to leaving for the restaurant Neon Boy asked if I had my camera, which I did, so we left his at home. Unbeknownst to me, my battery was in serious demise and the ONLY picture I was able to get of the evening was of the empty soup bowl:

So do you think we liked it? We used the bread to sop up any remaining soup. Yes, we liked it. A lot.

Next up was the main course. I had the salmon with veggies, perfectly grilled with a mustard seed sauce drizzled lightly on the fish. Neon Boy had pasta with tri-color cauliflower and The Gentrifier had some sort of salmon and pasta dish. I'd have taken pictures but I couldn't. I can tell you though that there was not a morsel of food on our plates when they were cleared from the table. And darn it, we all agreed that we would have to go back with a functioning camera sometime soon, real soon. We also agreed that it was just good cookin' at reasonable prices. Granted there's no alcoholic beverage service (however you can bring your own wine, free corkage) but dinner for the 3 of us with an appetizer AND dessert was under $50.

So with all the money we saved at Colori Kitchen we decided to have a nightcap at Seven Grand afterwards as our good friend George was one of the many behind the bar.

Overall it was a lovely evening that started with frantic phone calls from my theatre people as we were arriving at dinner and ended with a toast to good food and good friends at a whiskey bar.

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i heART downtown

In my newfound freedom from the ties that bind, otherwise known as Shannon's Not Stage Managing Anymore, I found myself with a free evening last night to do as I pleased. So with that as the impetus, here's the beginning of What I Did - chronicling my new adventures outside of the theatre world. Instead of having to say "sorry I've got a show" I now have the option of saying "yes, I just might show (up)."

To inaugurate my first Thursday of freedom I attended the Downtown Art Walk which takes place the second Thursday of every month, and it's free. I've threatened to go numerous times before but never actually made it during the "official" art walk portion of the evening. Last night was different, spurred on in part by needing to rectify the obvious as well as wanting to support a fellow 3BN'er, Dave Bullock (aka eecue), who had an opening at Niche Video Art.

I made my way to Downtown from Burbank and arrived just after 7pm scoring the most perfect parking spot. From there I popped into MJ Higgins #2 and said hi to Richard before making my way over to Niche. Soon thereafter Jim & Celia showed up and that's when the fun began. We attempted to go to Morono Kiang but found it closed upon arrival. From there we headed down to 4th and Main and hit MJ Higgins, Crewest, the lovely DLANC office, the Dale Youngman Gallery, Bert Green Fine Art and MJ #2.

One of the many highlights of the evening came as we were visiting with Ginny in the DLANC office; a rather large and entertaining Marching Band strutted by, who I would later find out was Killsonic. I wanted so very much to join them on their march-about-town but we were thick in conversation about something terribly important at the time. Later on, as we were having dinner at the non-hip but tasty Ensenada Restaurant, Celia spotted the DASH shuttle bus driving down the street with the band in tow. The LAist crew captured the adventure on video and has posted an edited down version of the fun. Here's to hoping they make repeated appearances at Art Walk in the future...both the LAist crew and Killsonic.

It was a fantastical sight to see so many people out on the street, at night, that it felt like a different city altogether. My usual experiences with the area are during daylight hours on weekends and the varied night about town, but this, this was altogether magical. It was a fun night, and one that I can now wholeheartedly endorse after finally experiencing the full set of festivities firsthand.

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we walked on wood

[photo by 3rdstla]

Photos from the JMWB walk are rolling in.

Neon Boy's photos.

Larry's photos.

I've already showed you mine.

Enjoy!

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Super Fat Tuesday Night in Downtown

Many thanks to LAist and Answer With Action for hosting a Super Fat Tuesday Election Night Party at Seven Grand last night. Neon Boy and I arrived shortly before 8pm knowing full well that we were too late to be one of the 1st 75 in attendance and eligible for the “first drink on us” aspect to the evening. That didn’t matter, we had already called ahead to the Los Angeles Pizza Company and would be shortly receiving the best pizza in town for all to ogle at. Much better than a free drink, right?

The place was lively to say the least, and I was quite thrilled to find a perch smack dab in the middle of it all. Numerous members and close associates of the 3BN were in attendance and we all had a chance to catch up with each other which was nice. I also introduced myself to the newly appointed editor of LAist, Zach Behrens, who seems like the most genuine and down to earth guy you could ever meet.

We weren’t able to stay for long as I had to meet up with a friend over at the newly renovated Eastern Columbia Lofts around 9:30. Neon Boy and The Gentrifier had yet to see the interior so we all walked over there together. An hour and a half later (most of that time was spent on the pool deck taking pictures) 2/3rds of us stopped by the Golden Gopher for a nightcap.

[the one picture deemed worthy enough for publishing from my camera]

Overall it was a rather tame evening by our usual standards. Maybe we’re getting old. Actually, according to my calendar it looks as if that statement is true…

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p.s. would Super Fat be a Baby Fat on steriods?

that was easy

This year I requested an absentee ballot with the intention of sending it in well prior to the mail in date. That didn’t happen, however the feeling of walking by a long line of people at the polling place to drop off my ballot and get the “I Voted” sticker was almost as thrilling as this evenings returns are sure to be.

Plus the sticker will entitle me to one free drink at 7 Grand if I’m one of the first 75 to show up proudly displaying said accoutrement.

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the JMWB walk

I went out on a final recon mission this weekend to determine the route I’d be exploring on foot this coming Sunday. I made my way to the corner of Western and James M. Wood Blvd. (formerly known as 9th Street) and proceeded EAST, shortly thereafter my decision was made. JMWB has the perfect blend of residential with small mom and pop shops thrown in for good measure. The total trip distance from start to finish is just over 3 miles which by my calculations won’t take very long. Averaging a generous 30 minute mile, this will put us Downtown possibly before 2pm, depending on how many side streets we spontaneously want to investigate in addition to the regular route.

I felt especially secure in my choice when I arrived at the cross street Garland, a sign from the gods I do believe:

Curious to know more about this nondescript building that bears my name, I did a creative google search and found the following.

Curious to know more about James M. Wood, I did a google search and found a few things, including this.

If you plan on joining the exploration of James M. Wood Blvd. then please be "on time [and] with style".

When: Sunday February 10, 2008 at NOON
Where: NE corner of Wilshire and Western
Why: Just because…

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walk talk

This weekend I decided to do some driving exploring of the potential route for the walk that I’m planning on February 10th and as it turns out I am considering altering it a teeny bit. One major change will be the starting point...we will now convene at the NE corner of Wilshire & Western….that would be both bus and train friendly in as far as transpo is concerned. The next minor alteration will be the actual walking route, we will still end up in Downtown however I’m considering scrapping Rampart and traversing an as yet unspecified east/west street, looking into 9th as a possibility. 4th Street is another option and if I go with that route then we will include Rampart.

I will be exploring again this Saturday and report back early next week with a more definite game plan. Either way, the walk will be between 3 and 5 miles (depending on the route) which in my mind is very manageable for most able bodied creatures. Starting time is still noon.

Also there may be a slight kink in the plans for drinks at the Figueroa Hotel as the damn Grammys happen on the same day, just across the street. That’s OK though, we will be on foot so if our drinking destination needs to change we will do it on the fly!

I hope those that have RSVP'd so far aren't too bummed at the change of plans, and if you are then plan your own damn walk!

:) kidding...kind of...

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marketing the walks

Downtown Los Angeles has it all these days. A plethora of Farmers Markets, a Flea Market, an actual supermarket, a skid row walk, a dog walk, an art walk and now a comedy walk (which by the way, begins tomorrow night).

Whew! Add a hell of a lot of places to eat, drink and be merry and you’ve got yourself a real live city.

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photo op of the day

Got a flexible work schedule today? Got a brand new digital camera that you’re dying to play with?

If you answered yes to the questions above then get your butt on over to City Hall as there’s sure to be great views from the top of the tower with the wind blowing away all the nastiness that covers the city on a daily basis.

Once inside take the elevators up to the 22nd floor then transfer to the other set of elevators which will take you to the 27th floor. From there walk up either side of the split staircase where you can then access the Observation Deck which will deliver a 360° view of the city.

If for some odd reason you are not allowed access to the top then find your way to the 4th floor and enjoy the bajillion historical photos of the Los Angeles area that line the hallways. And since you’re there be sure to check out the Rotunda on the 3rd level as well as the John Ferraro Council Chamber and Board of Public Works room.

Remember to bring your government issued ID (CADL or Passport) as they won’t let you in without proper identification.

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