THE MADONNA INN

Every weekend I try to go to the Melrose Flea Market where somehow there is always a treasure to be had. Well this time on the ground I spotted a old scrapbook. Seeing how I love old photos I picked it up and to my screaming delight ( actually I remained calm and quit, you know the louder the scream the higher the price ) I found some old post cards of my favorite hotel the Madonna Inn. So your thinking how can this be, well take a look. The old place has not changed and I'm not kidding since these pictures were taken. The Madonna Inn is three hours north of Hollywood on Highway 101 in San Luis Obispo. You can't help loving this place in all it's bad taste, over the top color, and fake everything. Somehow I think I see enough good design and tasteful beauty to really appreciate the vulgarity.

Portrait

So this is the deal, I walk into an antique store, leaving is a young women, we talk, she friendly ( rare in L.A.), beautiful, charming, has tons of energy, she tells me I'm great looking ( I like her already). Her name is Florencia Scagliotti (alias Flo) and she is a fashion designer. Now you must know, I know little about fashion but what I've seen on her web sight it's all very cutting edge, youthful, and crazy energetic. March 24, she's in a fashion show and I'm going to try my hardest to stay up that late and go see it. It should do this old goat some good to be around some young raw talent. You try being a clothes designer in this city in these days. Flo's web site is http://www.flopiwear.com/press.html. So go take a walk on the wild side you may feel young again.

MY HOLLYWOOD GARDEN

About three years ago Gregory Han from the ever wonderful Apartment Therapy appeared at my door to take  pictures for a house and garden tour. I was so excited I was like a teenager. I ran from room to patio to deck. He on the other hand was calm, like a ballet dancer with a camera, strolling around snapping pictures. Me, not so calm, chirping away about the clouds and rain. Wringing my hands and thinking shut up Kevin and let the man do his job. Well he did and I was thrilled. Thank you again Gregory Han! Here are a few pictures of the garden in the rain. Soon I hope, I'll show more, until then it's tax time and more rain.

Portrait

Hollywood has many talented people and in my peculiar neighborhood we are lucky enough to have an artist by the name of David Hrobowski. David has created chairs, lamps, tables, boxes, pictures frames you name it, he's made it, using ice cream sticks. Yes, you heard me right. Huge pieces to small pieces they are all really, really amazing to see. The craftsmanship is astonishing. I wanted to let you guys know about his new exhibition. The title is RIFFSTICK FURNITURE, an ice cream stick riff of expressive compulsive order.

The opening night reception is March 13, from 7pm to 10 pm.
Saturday Receptions- March 20, 27& April 3, 2pm to 7pm.
By appointment call (323) 6633426 or (323) 7821973 or write riffstick@cufflinkking.com
MORYORK GALLERY
4959 YORK BOULEVARD (at AVENUE 50) HIGHLAND PARK, CA. 90042

HOLLYWOOD AUTOGRAPHS

A couple years ago I was at a salvage yard and I came upon these slabs of concrete each weighting a ton. A scruffy man of questionable character sold them to me and said they were from George Hamilton's sidewalk, so I said I'LL TAKE THEM ALL! The idea was to repave our patio and place them here and there, then fill in the rest with mine, the doctor's, and friends autographs. Well you can see how far I gotten. There they sit a couple years later right where they were delivered, Rosemary Clooney, Tippi Hedren, Robert Wagner, and Ann Margaret. Oh well maybe this summer.

PORTRAIT

This portrait is of Gary Gibson. Gary is a L.A. based interior designer, artist, and product designer. Busy, yes, I would say so. He has several clients locally and in several different cities, he has a furniture line, he props and buys for his showroom and somehow through all this, he finds time to leave town and  hide out in his studio and paint. Now that's passion! His L.A. showroom studio is located at 7350 Beverly Blvd. If you haven't already been there you need to go, it's like walking into a real artist studio. Vintage and antique one of kind objects are here, there, and everywhere and only the professor can find them, is the look. This showroom is like no other in the city. What is wonderful about this environment is for sure the way it looks, it's that Gary represents artist and several craftsman, all showing their work in this creative place. Go check it out, afterwards don't be surprised if you change your major from business to art.