Farmer's Market and Rudy Guiliani on Skid Row

www.sachasacket.com

Went to the old Farmer's Market next to The Grove (in Los Angeles) this past Sunday. It was a great day. Full of sun and idleness. I've gone a few times the past month - really something wonderful. It's been maintained since the 50's and still captures the warm communal atmosphere you feel that decade should have offered. This is me in front of my favorite Crepes place. Deeelish...

My pictures don't do the place justice - if you live in LA and haven't been, seriously check it out. Much better than walking down Hollywood or Sunset in my opinion. If you want historic Hollywood, I really think you find it there (and downtown). Sunset and Hollywood are tourist traps - make the city feel farcical, plastic, and tawdry. The farmer's market gives a truer glimpse into what old Hollywood felt like in it's glory days. I can't help but feel that James Dean hung out there regularly.


Had a strange incident today. Ended up chatting with a homeless guy this morning - not the stereotypical image that often gets conjured up when you say "homeless." There are a lot of people that do a fantastic job of assimilating into society fluidly, so they don't get harassed by cops, etc. I sometimes don't know how much truth I am getting when I get their life story - but I felt there was quite a lot in his.

Regardless, I have been really interested in what is going on behind the scenes on skid row lately. I live a few blocks away from it. When I first moved in, 5th street was seriously packed with people. You could barely drive down the road at times - there were so many people on the streets... A lot of crack addicts of course. The place was dramatic and heart wrenching as hell. You would literally watch prostitutes dragging 2 year olds by the arm and heroin addicts (with heaven in their eyes) drooling in rat infested gutters. Driving down skid row around 2 am is something that changes you. You start to understand how bad the situation really can get. How much harder life actually IS.
How people can simply be swept away.

ANYWAY. The THING is... skid row is a ghost town now. The police have really cracked down on the area because of all the new lofts and construction projects. A lot of money is moving in - and with it - a new exodus must take place. What is striking is that when I drive down 5th now - it is barren. And you begin to wonder where everyone is being put... things don't add up. Shady business, if you know what I mean.

Well - this guy I talked to today told stories of police brutality. How they are forcing everyone south into Compton and further. How they have arrested thousands upon thousands of people. How twenty plus police cars block off whole streets at night and raid. Violate the 4th amendment. Break into tents, pillage belongings, beat up, intimidate... further destroy people's already destroyed lives. The whole bit.
And I completely believe all of it.

He said the mayor hired the same guy involved in the clean up of NY under Rudy Guiliani in the 80s. Which makes a lot of sense. Need to fact check that...

These stories will most likely never see the light of day. Most people in Los Angeles have no idea skid row is in their city to begin with. And all this amazes me.


www.sachasacket.com

edmund

Ran across a great band... argh! this song is killing me at the moment for some reason.
pop magnificence and beautifully optimistic. Just what I need at the moment. love the random arrangements of things. it has a fun feel to it
Please go check them out and bookmark/buy their stuff. They can use it and deserve attention!

edmund

check out "the search is over" - 1st song on their myspace page.
and buy their stuff here


also check out this band-
Black Lab
their song - Mine Again

Santa Barbara, toilets, and trespassing city sidewalks

We took this picture backstage last night in Santa Barbara. Soho has a great sound guy, so it was a pleasure to play. People were dancing to some of our songs which was cool and fun to see - although I don't know how they did it to "Brandon." We were all a bit surprised at that... Met some really talented folks last night too - if you get a chance, check out - Simon Lynge and Chris Ayer. We hope to play more shows with them in the future. Always nice to see fantastically gifted folks being so generous in person as well. We shared a show with Chris just a few weeks ago in San Diego - played a yoga studio. Twiggs (the venue) had to shut down because the residents filed complaints against them - so we ended up playing to people lying out on yoga mats. It was seriously random, but the sound was good there too - and that's all that matters :)

This picture was taken before the Awakenings show in Lomita- they have a romper room right next door to the stage - so Anna and I decided to have a little fun of our own. Here she is inside a blowfish.

Life can offer the most random things at times. We were walking down Santa Barbara main drag on State street and passed this statue. It's a kid on a toilet with a biday squirter in his hands. It looks more like a game controller really - and why a kid would have a biday nozzle on a toilet is beyond me. It was so weird that I sorta wish I bought it.

I was walking through downtown LA a bit ago and ran across this on the sidewalk. "Right to Pass by Permission, and subject to control of owners." It was placed every 15 feet or so on the sidewalk. Really struck me as insane. Felt Orwellian for some reason...

Important things in place

I am so excited :)

Feist

Really enjoying Feist at the moment.
If you haven't bothered giving her a listen - do it! :)

Brick ovens and Medieval Times

Summer is starting to scare me.

It's going to be HOT and my particular building is exposed brick. Which is really nice - but the sun sets on my side and heats everything up. Suddenly my domicile isn't a room with a view - but an evil brick oven out to kill me. At night you can actually feel the walls still radiating heat. And you are still cooking at midnight. The air conditioner is from the early 80s and not in the best condition either...

So I have been enjoying this June gloom. But we are nearing July and I just know I am in for it :)

I have discovered you can download vh1's "best week ever" on itunes for free. Definitely worth it. Cracks me up every time.

I went to Medieval Times about a week ago? Maybe 2... it was HILARIOUS. You sort of know you are in for something campy and all that - but the place is fully aware of their cheese factor - and it makes you love them for it. People get absolutely PLASTERED. At the end of the event they offer dancing complete with disco ball and DJ. You have to wade through rump shaking with the Knights of the Royal Order to exit. Probably my favorite moment. You also witness some of the worst acting ever. I wanted to put the princess out of her misery with all the stinky line readings.

It's so wrong - it's beautiful.


Oh yeah - they serve half a chicken, 1 baked potato, and 1 (count em - 1) rib. No silverware (because it's "authentic"). The "wench" made a special point to announce you only get 1 napkin... so sneak some in when you go.... ;)

Jane Austin, faux hawks, and phone booths

Got my faux hawk even further faux-hawked yesterday. Bleached it out (was just red before)... Twas fun. Going out to Room 5 tonight to show it off.

Obsessed with Jane Austin and at the moment. Not sure why. It's sort of hilarious. Went from Grapes of Wrath to Pride and Prejudice. random. I think I needed the levity. It's such a fun novel - Pride and Prejudice. Walks through parks, commenting on seasons/demeanor/furniture... secrets spilt on letters, card playing, bleeding hearts, corseted desires, intricate plot devices.

It has a Davinci Code-iness to it. Very plot heavy, very addictive. Glad I finally got round to it. She makes fun of all her characters yet keeps them close to her heart. Gave a circle of life nature to it. Optomistic and human.

I guess I am blathering. Books. Books. Books. Not very pop culture of me.

Lots of cool new things afoot. Much I can't talk about. New songs springing forth which brings new life. Wrote my first thing in 5/4 on the piano. Not really a song - but might become one - you never know.

Here is some Banksy for your viewing pleasure...


And a still from the new music vid (photo by kayemee) ...



XO

Music Video Pics

changes in the wind...

New picture, Banksy, Zen and the Art of Motorcyle Maintenance

There is a lot of graffiti where I live... and it's pretty much art. A renaissance of sorts in downtown LA. Deeper than much of what you see elsewhere (unless you visit heavily industrial areas - the good stuff concentrates there). I find truth in it - there is a compulsion to spark meaning from the meaningless. Boring facade becomes place of note, ugly industrial becomes canvas. Message at every corner. These works behind me are cool to look at but they have a world behind them. There is meaning if you really take it in... if you spend the time.

It's not about your name anymore, it's about what you can instigate, how many boundaries you can push.

I have a huge love for Banksy. If you don't know about him - you need to. He truly is a great artist of our time.

Another recommendation: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

Great book I read ages ago. I can't explain it without sounding elitist and high-falutin. It talks of the factories and buildings around us - how we have no idea what so many of these buildings are FOR. What do these ugly facades create? Why they are there? It speaks of how they create a sense of alienation from the world around us, from society. I feel graffiti stems from a need to bring expression back to these monoliths. Humanity over Industrial. Expression over Necessity. Individual over Government.

Life sprung from Concrete...

This painting helped inspire lovers and leaders

More beloved randomness

This flyer was on my car yesterday... there is so much wrong with it - I can't even start - but I love it for that reason as well. Mispelling "lose" is so freaking awesome. And having the gall to ask people to send money like that is so damn ballsy.


STOP THE INSANITY!

Look what I did...

So yeah... it's a new phase of sorts for me. Time for a change. I did the eyebrow and lip piercings about 2-3 weeks ago. What do you think? The lip didn't really hurt at all. It was so simple and effortless. The eyebrow hurt pretty bad - but I have had 2 eyebrow piercings before (in college) and was ready for it. You like?


Just got the industrial yesterday - and I LOVE it. Really happy I got it. BUT... it was by far the most painful. I have somewhat of a high tolerance for this sort of stuff (I think) but the industrial pirecing put me over the edge. The first top ear piercing was freaking bad and I heard the cartillage pop when he shoved the needle into my ear - but the second piercing on the lower part of my ear KILLED. Seriously have not felt something hurt that bad in a long time... Your body gets super sensitive from the adrenaline or something when you get pierced - so anything after that is just death. They also have to measure it up so the bar can go through - so there is all this wrangling going on... and after they pierce it with the needle, they have to push the actual bar through... yeah... it went a little past my pain threshold as a whole - I almost lost it for a second there (I get dramatic sometimes - yes ;) but the experience was completely worth it in a strange way. I just really like it.

I did NOT sleep very well last night though... :) I like to sleep on that side and every time I try to move to it, in the middle of some dream, there was serious pain to contend with...

HOWEVER - I still highly suggest getting one :)

John William Waterhouse

Jacques-Louis David

Bugs on my face

So there are ladybugs in my hotel room. I find them in the most random places... Climbing the edges of my sink while "cleansing" my face, hiding in my jeans' pocket, between numbers 8 and 9 on the telephone... I even woke up to one crawling on my nose this morning.

What does that mean?


Do I get sunny skies?
Good luck?
Great sex for a year?

Or are they teasing me with wishes I should be making?

Random Signage Continued...

I guess I have a profound love for the randomness of the world. I take pictures of things that fascinate me... So here are a few objects for your appreciation...

Who knew being a "hacker" was embraced so widely by academia? A whole book on Hacker terminology????














This sign is posted new my place and it caught my eye for no reason... just found it really creepy, visual, and unnecessary. Very Big Brother of course...



I was walking through the supermarket and almost choked on my own saliva... it's more horrible than anything I have ever seen in my life... American Idol ICE CREAM? I mean... wha????? Whose job is it to come up with American Idol flavors? And is Triple Talent the best they could come up with??? "Soulful Sundae Cone????" I mean... huh????

I am just in awe of this kind of thing... WHO IN GOD'S NAME IS BUYING THIS STUFF?????? Can someone please explain this to me?

March Music Playlist: Some old, some new

Thought I would post some music for ya all to chill to... I'll be switching it around throughout the month probably... Enjoy :)

William Fitzsimmons

So... this guy, William Fitzsimmons, is definitely someone you should check out... His music is really lovely and amazing. Very subtle but deeply affecting. My favorite song is "Funeral Dress."

I've had my eye on him for a while - and it's really nice to see he is on tour - so go check him out if he is playing near you!!!!

http://www.myspace.com/williamfitzsimmons

A New Sacha Site!?

I was just informed of a wonderful new website called...

The Sacha Sacket Source - www.sachasacketsource.com !

How lovely is that???!!!
Go and check it out :)