The Genghis Cohen

The Genghis Cohen really kind of sucks. The restaurant is decently sized but what people go there for is the music. And the restaurant is completely separate from the small music hall across the way. Both space wise and financially. Reguardless if you drink or eat, you still have to pay to get into the music side. And from the bar, there is this annoying sound proof glass window looking into the music space.

Disneyland Tour of Downtown Los Angeles

Ever since I went on the Crime bus tour a few months ago, I’ve been really into the history of LA. So when I read about the Disneyland Tour of downtown, I got excited.

It sounds like a stretch — finding downtown’s equivalents of Main Street U.S.A., Frontierland, Adventureland, etc., but it seems to work.

Jay Brannan at the Genghis Cohen March 29th

On Thursday March 29th, Jay Brannan comes to the Genghis Cohen, his first LA show and on his Bday! I’m going and you should too! Who is Jay? He’s a musician from NYC who’s funny and entertaining and a good singer. You may have seen him in John Cameron Mitchell’s “Short Bus”. Check him out singing Str8 outta compton in NYC a few months ago.

This is his You Tube channel… check it out for more videos and some of his own songs… not covers. I just couldn’t help posting a cover though, it’s funny. http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=jaybrannan

The Ghetto Gourmet

I don’t want to write this… but I’m gonna! I had the pleasure of finally getting to go to a Ghetto Gourmet dinner party last week. What’s the GG you ask?

The Ghetto Gourmet is an underground dining experience in the United States. Diners pay between $40 and $100 and are served a table d’hôte meal at a non-restaurant location. Douglas Adesko at Time magazine wrote: “Jeremy Townsend, the original Ghetto Gourmet, came up with the idea when his brother, a line cook, wanted to try some dishes. They started in their house in Oakland, California. Two years and one visit from a health inspector later, Townsend took his idea mobile, trying out chefs in other cities. ‘My ultimate dream is to tour the country like a rock band, except with dinner parties,’ he says.”

Photo by Vera Devera

And that’s just what they are currently doing. Based out of the San Francisco Bay area, they are currently traveling the country, from NYC to LA feeding eager gourmets in various people’s homes and having a great time doing it.

I’ve read so many great things about this group. From the many food blogs to the article in Time Magazine. I was so excited that I managed to get a ticket for one of their LA dinners the week they were in town.

The dinners also feature entertainers and performers from a variety of disciplines including comedians Ryan Stout and Rob Paravonian. Ghetto Gourmet’s original entertainment was Shinobi, Joe Townsend’s pet pitbull. A few months after founding Ghetto Gourmet, Joe and Jeremy Townsend threw “Pickled Citrus” and invited their talented friends, a visual artist and a jazz trio, to perform. Since then, performers, ranging from authors, fire-eaters, belly-dancers, blues guitarists and comedians have volunteered to perform for the Ghetto Gourmet’s audiences.

All of this always makes for a great crowd. You’re for sure going to make friends and have a great time.

I attended a Tuesday night event in LA, basically the same one but a different location (and different guests) as Caroline from Caroline on Crack did. We had the same menu so if you’re interested, check out her blog.

Photo by Vera Devera

I’m not going to beat around the bush. I was disappointed. I thought I was going to this cool, unpretentious underground dinner party. Instead I really felt kind of awkward the whole night. It seemed very pretentious. From the food to the people to the entertainment. It was like a yuppie fest. And it wasn’t just me, I brought a chef friend of mine and he felt the exact same way. Don’t get me wrong, it was a okay meal, not great, and the people at our table were okay, but nothing what I expected.

Would I ever do this again if I was going to have the same experience? No way in hell. I’d rather spend $45 in a real restaurant with good chefs that have proper tables. While I like meeting new interesting random people, these things need to be more than that.

But would I try it again? You bet. I am totally willing to give it a few more chances before I totally rule it out. I’ve read too many good things. How could you go wrong with this concept?

So if you’re interesting in trying the GG, they are having several events in the upcoming days in LA… March 23rd-28th. Check out their website for all the info and to buy tickets.

Oh… cool link. They had a photo booth set up at the GG I went to in LA, see them here on Flickr.

Read some more about the GG:

The Ghetto Gourmet’s Official Website: http://www.theghet.com/
FloridaFoodHound Blog
The GG on Wiki
LVHRD.org’s Review

The Daily Grind returns…

I don’t like the direction my blog is taking. I’m going to start writing about anything anytime. I’ve kind of have been not writing about things because I feel like each blog should be about one place, a review perhaps, or at least an announcement if it’s a one time engagement. So from now on I’m going to do a daily or every other day blog called ‘The Daily Grind’ which will just be a very random assortment of things I find interesting in LA, on the web, and just in general.

That is all.

~J

This week’s Friday off the 405 at the Getty

Photo by Malingering

Just wanted to drop a blog about the Getty’s “Friday off the 405″ this Friday. Don’t miss it!

Fridays Off the 405 features free live music and a cash bar. The galleries will be open as well so you can be among the first to see Zoopsia: New Works by Tim Hawkinson and Art, Anti-Art, Non-Art: Experimentations in the Public Sphere in Postwar Japan, 1950-1970, or even try your hand at drawing in the galleries with their Getty Drawing Hour.

This Friday Ulysses and J. Mendez are playing.

”Signs of spring in the Museum Courtyard: Ulysses’ high-energy, techno-pop blend of house, live percussion, electro, and remixed melody. Praised for his “retro genius” and his knack for getting “even the hippest, too-cool-for-school dance snobs up on the floor,” Ulysses takes you on a musical trip through the tribal, the minimal, and the groovy.

Opening the evening is OC native J. Mendez, aka Jasper, who sets the evening’s relaxed, chill tone with his brilliant minimal techno.”

I’ll see you there!

March 16, 2007’s Friday off the 405
Time: 6:00–9:00 p.m.
Location: Getty Center, Museum Courtyard, 1200 Getty Center Drive in Los Angeles, California
Admission: Free; no reservations required.

Parking is in their huge garage at the base of the hill for $8. Park and ride the tram up to the Getty.

Check out my old blog about Fridays off the 405 here.

Home James!

You go out, you have a little too much to drink, you drove, you don’t want to have to leave your car in a lot over night… nobody can drive you home… what do you do? You call Home James! Before I had a blog several months back, I told Caroline from Caroline on Crack about this and this is what she wrote:

Contrary to popular belief, I’m actually not a big drinker. Since two cocktails is usually my limit, I inevitably end up being the designated driver for my friends. But ever since I heard about Home James, I’m gonna say, “Screw you guys, I’m gettin’ drunk!” Just kidding, no I’m not, but it’s nice to know that this driving service is available should it come to that.

Home James is a genius idea. You know how sometimes you end up getting behind the wheel even though you know you shouldn’t after one cocktail too many, just because you don’t want to leave your car somewhere? I’m not your mom, but you risk life, limb and someone else’s life by doing that, eff the inconvenience! OK, sorry I had to yell at you. But now you have good ol’ “James,” the only person it’s all right to drunk dial.

Call the service and they’ll send over a driver. He’ll show up on a Di Blasi scooter that can easily collapse and fit in your trunk. For $35 (for the first 5 miles and $3 per mile thereafter) he’ll drive you and your car home. No judgment.

I know what you’re thinking: “I don’t feel comfortable having some stranger pilot my car and take me home.” But not to worry, the company thoroughly screens their drivers, checking for a clean driver license, conducting background checks and applying random substance abuse tests. And they’ve been used for events like the William Morris Agency’s Grammy party, Scrubs‘ wrap party and the Fred Segal fashion show.

The cute factor? Once the drivers come to work for Home James, they’re renamed “James” and have to speak with a British accent at all times. AND, I hear that the drivers are actor-model types dressed in mod black Mossimo suits. Hey now!