Life: No Helmets Necessary!

Life: No Helmets Necessary!
Originally uploaded by Sanctuary-Studio

This is how I celebrated Day Two of Birfday Week!

Slow down Easy Rider!

Friends:This Place Rehearsal

About a week ago I posted my photos from Jazz's rehearsal for her performance This Place. Below is a video of my girl in full-effect!


This Place from Beth on Vimeo.

Such a beautiful and powerful piece. Completely wow'd as usual...Brava Ms. B!

Photos: This Place...

Last week I had the pleasure of photographing the rehearsal of Jazz's upcoming solo performance, This Place. This Place explores the dynamics and impact of those who surround mental illness- the secrecy, regret, trauma, helplessness, legacy.

This performance will premiere Saturday evening, September 27th at DanceSpot in Silver Lake's Studio A Dance. Tickets can be reserved at StudioADance.com. Hope to see you there!









To view the rest of the photos from rehearsal click here.

Photos: Jazz's Palm Springs B-Day Weekend!

It was quite the celebration!  We even managed to squeeze Prom photos AND a Jane Fonda Workout into the weekend.  You know what that spells?  S-U-C-C-E-S-S.  Yep, one might even say 'we did it'!

Pooh diaper, literally:


Readables:

Let's start the Family Feud:

Xanadu, really?

Crazy mirrored house:

Wished for more leg warmers...I'm sure of it:

Bringing the JFW back one leg warmer at a time:

For eighty more laughs you're invited to click here.

Travel: Why It's Been So Quiet...

...because I can't Blog from the Jacuzzi!

Jacuzzi'd:

Hope you're all having a fabulous long weekend as well!

Friends: Happy Birthday DJ Jazzy Beth!

This one's for you:

I hope you have a deliciously splendid day!  And I can assure you that the following few days will most definitely be Palm Springs FABULOUS!  

Love love love you Guerrettes like crazy.  I'm so very blessed to call you family.  Thanks for being so Rad! ;-)

Happiest of Happy Days, Lady!

B-day 2005, Hollywood, CA:

(Photos are under lock & key.)

B-day 2006 @ The Loft:

B-Day 2007, Palm Springs, CA:

B-day 2008, Palm Springs, CA...to be continued:     

Photos: LA vs WAR

Yep, action-packed weekend, indeed!  The Eastsiders and I rallied yesterday and managed to squeeze in the final day of the LA vs. WAR show taking place @ the Firehouse in Downtown LA.  Totally STELLAR show, yo!  And, yes, it was hot downtown...but absolutely worth it.  

Complete propaganda overload...if that's even possible.  With over 250 pieces of art plastered all over the walls we must have circled the venue at least three times.  Did not want to miss a thing!  Most of the prints, posters, stencils, originals, limited editions, etc. were for sale and due to the number of really amazing (as well as totally moving) pieces we ALL had a very hard time narrowing down which one(s) were going home with us...

Mine:

Stencil by Ben Collison

"Every time you point your finger at someone...there are three fingers pointing back at you."

Stop The Killing...

Coming to a Target near you...

You can read more about Patrick Martinez's Toy Soldier guerilla art campaign in Juxtapoz.

Hard to decide...

Stuck...


The rest of the very fascinating photos from this set can be viewed here.

LIfe: Aerial Silk & Trapeze Training

Last weekend I trekked out to Eagle Rock to take my first Aerial Silk and Trapeze class offered through Focus Fish.  Jazz and I arrived at Extreme Training Center a bit early and had a chance to watch the end of the intermediate class (pictured here).  

The excitement was definitely building...

There were only four people in our intro class.  This turned out to be ideal.  With 3 trapeze bars and 3 silks we each had ample time to practice the techniques being taught.  The class focused on stretching, upper body & core strengthening  and basic silk & trapeze techniques.  I'm grateful that Judith, our fantastic instructor, broke the class up with lots of stretching.  Can't even begin to tell you how sore my pecs, lats and abs are today, two days after class!  I was really surprised to learn that silk and trapeze require you to engage more muscle groups than just your arms.  Core and leg strength are just as crucial.  

The hour-long class flew by.  It was definitely a workout but we were having so much fun I hardly noticed.   With that said I was thoroughly fatigued by the end of our session.  I'm definitely planning on making this class a regular part of my ongoing training regimen but I've recently recommitted to Boot Camp (beginning this Saturday...w00t!) so I don't think I'll get back out to Silk/Trapeze for a couple of weeks.  I figure if I can alternate Boot Camp & Trapeze/Silk classes every other weekend it will make for a diverse training program...on top of my ongoing running routine, natch!  

Oh, it's worth mentioning that the Aerial class takes a beating on your hands!  When Jazz and I got back to The Loft we went straight for the ice...Yeow!  I tried to take a picture of how raw and red my hands were but this doesn't seem to adequately represent the soreness.

Totally worth it....

Music: Ani DiFranco Concert @ The Orpheum

Burners are THE BEST gifters...Poop and Jazz totally hooked a Sista up for her b-day this year! w00t!  They gifted me a ticket to the Ani DiFranco concert at the Orpheum last Friday night.   Ani is one of Jazz's all-time favorite musicians and this is our third year in a row that we've gone together to see her perform live.  Ani never disappoints...

Animal Prufrock opened the show...talk about NOT disappointing.  A true entertainer.  Too much fun!  We were dying when Animal came out from behind her drums to perform this song...

I wish I could find some footage of her walking forward and moon-walking back (in her uber-righteous orange jumpsuit)...over and over again.  Seriously too much fun!  We bumped into Animal between sets and I had the opportunity to pay her mad props for her super entertaining performance...to which she paid me a very sweet compliment right back!

Ani's set was nothing less than stellar.  I don't think the smile left my face the entire evening.  I especially appreciate the way she connects with the audience on such a personal level.  I've seen countless live shows over the years and the shows that always stand out the most are those in which the performers communicate with their audience.  Ani's stories and quick wit always fill the venue with smiles and laughter.  Such a good night.  

I love the Orpheum because it's such an intimate venue.  I just don't understand how anyone could come see Ani DiFranco perform live and SIT IN THEIR CHAIR through the entire performance?!  Jazz and I had the best seats in the last row of the lower orchestra section so we took advantage of being able to stand and rock out through the whole set. About 3/4's of the way through the show others started popping up out of their seats as well.  What took so long, people?!

One of my favorite songs from Ani's set-

Okay, all for now. I have an aerial silk AND trapeze class to get to, no joke! I've always told you that I'm gonna run off and join the circus someday...

Art: Caught In The Act...

Last weekend while hanging with my favorite Eastsiders we popped into the urban art supply store, Maintain in Silverlake.  In a small courtyard on the side of the shop I captured this creator creating.... 

That Dude had mad skillz!  It was amazing to see how much control he had with those spray cans.  So impressive!

Inside Maintain...

To view a few more shots from this set click here.

Photos: Andre's Blessing @ The Red House

And the Tribe continues to grow...

Little Man Of The Hour::

Sharing A Moment::

Godmom, Judy, lovingly admires::

Brilliance::

Pepperoni Hot::

Mom's Final Touches::

Community Art::

Family Love::

110% Happiness::

Many thanks to the Guerrette's for bringing this radiantly glowing ember into our lives!  Love you all like Mad!  

Click here to view about a million more spectacular moments from this amazing day.

Art: Sam Flores- Obama Hope Print

Sam Flores has, once again, teamed up with Upper Playground to offer this limited edition Hope print in support of Barack Obama's presidential campaign.  This print is currently available through the Upper Playground site for $200.  Get 'er while you can!

I became familiar with Sam Flores' work last May when I was searching for the perfect birthday gift for my for my sister by soul, DJ Jazzy Beth (who at the time was preggers with her son).  It was straight-up playadipity when I received an email from the Lab101 Gallery letting me know that this limited edition print was soon to be released!  I've been a HUGE Flores fan ever since!

Photos: The Standard - Downtown

Stopped in to the Standard for drinks late afternoon on Sunday.  The rooftop deck is super fly for chillin' with your favorite peeps while sipping a cold beverage.  Good beats, to boot!  It was a great way to unwind after an afternoon filled with Downtown LA activities!  

Caught In The Act-                                                                                    

Stoopid Bunny-

Standard Attire-

Stuck-

Food: Pete's Cafe & Bar - Downtown LA

FINALLY made it to Pete's for lunch! DJ Jazzy Beth has been teasing me with stories of Gourmet Grilled Cheese Sandwiches served with Creamy Tomato Basil Soup and a side of Fries for weeks now.   Must concur...Yum City to the 10th degree!  I want to go back RIGHT NOW and I want to take all of you with me!  Any chance this can this be arranged?

Pictured here is the Supreme Grilled Cheese with cheddar, mozzarella, bleu & goat cheese with caramelized onions.  Admittedly, when it comes to good food I have very little self control....as such I had to take a nibble BEFORE the thought ever crossed my mind to take a picture.   

What better way is there to wash down such a divine treat than with a couple pints of Bass?!

I (of course) had my new glass with me and Ben had his new Canon G9 (w00t!) so in between the bites and swigs we were both busily creating and experimenting.

Up Next...

South Park Flea Market & The Standard Downtown...stay tuned!

TONIGHT: At the King King - Hollywood