A Day in the Life: MOCA & The Bates Motel

One of my close friends, Jennifer, finally finished her finals last week! Woohoo~ She was only back home for about a week before starting summer courses at UC Davis so we jammed packed different places we’ve been wanting to go to in one day. With clear skies and the bright sun out all day, we set out to venture into two of our favorite cities in Southern California: Hollywood and Los Angeles.

I’ve been eyeing the William Pope.L exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Art (Giffen Contemporary at MOCA) for a while now so we planned our first destination to be here. This is the smallest of the three MOCA locations so some of the art can be limited compared to some other museums around the block. But what really caught my eye here was the 16 x 45 feet flag installation placed right in the center of the warehouse. With large industrial fans rushing and blowing the flag on its left, this Trinket installation is an incessant force, symbolizing the need for the people to literally “feel their democracy.” It’s an interesting message for sure.

We continued to walk around and explore the grounds. This exhibition was smaller than most seasonal exhibits I’ve visited at this location. There were only two other rooms showcasing his art, but it didn’t stop us from capturing a few shots in this room with sheer blank walls and soft light.

Once we looked at everything, we set out to visit some other ol’ gem in the city: the Bates Motel. An old motel painted completely white and also featured in the film Psycho back in the 60s, it’s a pretty well known place for those who love flushed white images and somewhat eerie settings. Surprisingly, it’s located in an unexpected block in Silver Lake.

I continued to look at this strange building and admire the grounds. There is something incredibly beautiful about the stillness and the remains left behind. To me, time doesn’t necessarily stop in these sorts of places, it just moves at a different pace.

It was around 6 PM by then, and we heard our bellies calling for some evening coffee (yes, coffee in the evening is completely logical). Conveniently, we spotted a Dinosaur Coffee right across the street. We ordered two lattes and found a spot by the window.

Slowly sipping our coffee, we lounged, exchanged college stories, and winded down.

It’s truly a good feeling to be able to catch up with good company and visit places (old and new) that never cease to blow your mind, stimulate wonder, and transcend the present moment. From art revealing powerful political messages, eerie abandoned wastelands, to good ol’ cuppa joe, it was definitely a day well spent.

Giffen Contemporary at MOCA

152 N. Central Ave.

Los Angeles, CA 90012

(213) 626-6222

The Bates Motel

4301 Sunset Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90029

Dinosaur Coffee

4334 Sunset Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90029

A Day in the Life: Make Music Pasadena 2015

The day had finally come—the free, annual Make Music Pasadena festival that occurs every June in the sunny and sweet neighborhood of Old Town Pasadena. This was my second time here that it’s almost like a summer tradition for me. Although I was pretty unfamiliar with the majority of the bands lined up this year, I was stoked to see Kishi Bashi and Sir Sly, two bands I had discovered some time back.

My sister, Amy, and I drove there around 4 in the evening, just in time for Kishi Bashi’s performance at one of the main stages. By this time, many families, dogs, and local or traveling teens had arrived, a much larger crowd than the previous year. Will it become a mini Coachella? Hmmm…What’s great about this event are the many stages available around the venue. With a line up and schedule of when and where certain bands are performing released days before, you can essentially plan your entire day out. Amy and I conveniently wanted to see bands performing at the same stage, by various food trucks and pop-up shops on Colorado Boulevard.

Kishi Bashi, a bright indie pop band based in Seattle, gave an uplifting, joyous performance that evening. The man behind Kishi Bashi is Kaoru Ishibashi, a violinist of the band “Of Montreal” and a musician voted “Best New Artist” by NPR in 2012. He concluded his last few tracks with one of my established favorites, Philosophize With It! Chemicalize In It!, one that can potentially end up on a Wes Anderson film soundtrack. Ishibashi’s renowned, electrifying skill in the violin proved itself evident after hearing Carry On Phenomenon, another song with a gorgeous violin solo.  The majority of his songs are unlike any other, which can make it a complex listen for those who don’t know the band too well, but I definitely warmed up to them after hearing their latest studio album released last year, Lightght.

Performing minutes after Kishi Bashi, Sir Sly finished the event off at the main stage. The Los Angeles based trio has a very unique, absorbing sound, somewhat reminiscent of the vocals of The Neighbourhood and catchiness of Terraplane Sun. This band had quietly lurked from the shadows all while releasing a number of EPs and singles. But after being ranked #1 on HypeMachine’s current tops in 2013, the indie pop band began to gain more and more name recognition. During their Make Music performance, Sir Sly played all of their widely known favorites—Gold, Ghost, and Found You Out—all tracks I’ve been loving off their most recent album You Found Me. Sir Sly definitely got us dancing, singing along, and sending shivers down our spines.

After a couple hours of enjoying live music, Amy and I did what we usually like to do, explore the ground. The streets were packed and heavy with groups of families and friends, so we walked through the quiet alleyways of Old Town. We eventually found one between two gorgeously built buildings with a New York/Breakfast at Tiffany’s feel.

I’m a personal fan of my sister’s fashion and of what she wore that day. Here, she’s sporting a black halter crop from Zara, light stressed boyfriend jeans from Zara, a plaid flannel from Uniqlo, and white Nike kicks.

Here, I’m sporting a striped tee from Zara, thrifted black high-waisted shorts, a thrifted thick brimmed hat, and thrifted black Aldo flats. (Note: I thrift a lot.)

We continued to walk around and enjoy the nice day out, all while listening to the distant sounds of other bands performing nearby. It’s definitely a fulfilling moment to listen to live music alongside your community. It’s a time when you get to together with others through the power of music, a medium that does nothing but heal and mend hearts. Thank you for a swell Saturday, Make Music Pasadena :-)

"Without music, life would be a mistake." -Friedrich Nietzche

A Day in the Life: A Summer Picnic

Now that it’s practical to wear denim shorts, sunglasses, and lightweight kimonos, a picnic at one of my favorite neighborhood parks sounded more than ideal. My sister, Amy, has recently picked up the art of long boarding so we each took turns practicing on a Venice-made Arbor board on our way to the park. A rucksack with a picnic blanket, my favorite magazine, snacks, and a camera in hand, we set out to enjoy the beautiful sunny weather.

When we arrived, I couldn’t help but look forward to the relaxation and moment of paradise ahead. Imagine a small park filled with children ecstatically running towards the nearest ice cream truck after getting the approval of their parents, dogs playing wildly in the sand, parents discussing their personal issues on benches, and the occasional bystander gathering his thoughts near the trunk of a tree. The scene was just like this, everything in perfect ratios. When I was younger, I never really took the time to notice such small details in my surroundings. But nowadays, I’ve been making the habit to appreciate these little things and seek beauty wherever they are.

After ten minutes of long boarding, Amy and I walked around for a bit until we found a nice spot in the shade. We fixed our blanket and took some deep breaths.

I brought with me one of my favorite seasonal magazines called Kinfolk. These quarterly lifestyle magazines feature gorgeous images, recipes, and travel tips written with grace. I would undoubtedly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a light, intimate read to unwind and slow down. While my sister was long boarding along the sidewalks by the park, I played some music (Blackbird Blackbird’s Hawaii being my initial track) and got a head start on the food…(*subtle-not-so-subtle evil smirk*).

Luckily, I saved her enough popcorn to keep her satisfied :-) After we shared some laughs and stories until we lost track of time, we called it a day. Sometimes it can really mean a lot to go outside and enjoy the weather, even if it’s just for a couple of hours.

“This curious world we inhabit is more wonderful than convenient; more beautiful than it is useful; it is more to be admired and enjoyed than used.” –Henry David Thoreau

A Day in the Life: El Matador State Beach

Come to think of it, I can’t think of one summer vacation I didn’t go to the beach. After waiting two full weeks of summer without seeing a body of water, my friends (Maxine, Magaly, and Tany) and I finally dedicated a Saturday to go to El Matador State Beach, one of the many beaches along the Malibu coast. As it was all of our first times here, we noticed entirely new things about the location that we wouldn’t have if we’ve been here before.

Blasting Kendrick Lamar’s “King Kunta” and classics for 90s kids at full volume during our commute, our fun started even before we arrived! Interestingly, the fog loomed over us right as we entered the Santa Monica Mountains, creating a drastic change from sunny 80 degree valley weather into full-on 68 degree beach weather (which is typical in some of these parts). Completely unaffected by the change in weather, we continued to sing the tunes at our lungs ~ After a good forty minutes of driving, we arrived around ten in the morning and got a head start before all the other families that usually arrive later in the afternoon.

Carrying an unnecessary umbrella, some wraps for lunch, and our small boom box, we eagerly started walking from the cliff down to the shore. Widely known for their caves and large rock formations, El Matador was just the place I’ve been meaning to visit.

We admired the comforting sound of the waves, the near solitude, and each others' lifted spirits as we looked at our day ahead.

We settled on the far right side of the shore and set up our things. We laid our towels, ate our wraps, and planted our bare feet into the warm sand. We didn’t want to sit idly by for too long so we quickly ate, left our stuff, and began to explore the land. When we walked to the edge of the shore, one would initially think the cliff ended there, but behind some large rocks, we saw a small opening that seemed to lead to the other side. After gently poking adorable sea anemones for some time, we snapped out of it and continued our spontaneous journey. As tides were high, some of the waves would startle us but we kept going, leading us to an entirely new part of shore.

With many stepping-stones ahead, I felt my bare feet getting number and number. Eventually, we walked to the end of the shore again and saw another small opening which led to a larger cave with the sea lurking behind.

In awe with what we saw, we sat back on the larger stones by the water and watched the waves come in and out. There’s something about these beautiful rock formations, the ocean, the sound of seagulls, and the scent of my beach hair that soothes my soul. My mind was in a clutter this past month with final exams and exercise hiatus that this specific moment was just what I needed, retuning my soul to the fullest. We knew we spent almost an hour in this cave when we started noticing more and more people pass through.

When we thought it was time, we left the cave and continued walking further. We soon walked out into what looked like a private beach open to us exclusively. …Almost as though we entered a completely different coast—the cave being our teleporter. Here we saw stunning beachfront homes settled by the edge of the cliff and couldn’t help but envy its habitants.

After suffering from minor scratches and numbness, our feet finally thanked us after we started running across the smooth sand. We spent some time at this part of El Matador as there were only less than ten people in sight (which is rare nowadays). There was something incredibly fascinating about how the overcast weather and teal-tinted currents created this dream-like ambience. Almost like a fantasy. I’ve definitely dreamt about moments like these. Great company and phenomenal destinations served as the ultimate getaway from busy LA life.

"There is nothing more beautiful than nature early in the morning." -Vincent Van Gogh

El Matador State Beach

32100 Pacific Coast Hwy

Malibu, CA 90265

A Day in the Life: Stoney Point Park

An outdoor climbing park I’ve bookmarked for a while now, Stoney Point Park was our first destination my good friend and I set out to visit on a blazing hot Friday afternoon in the city of Chatsworth, CA. He and I drove out on a dusty terrain for almost hour—passing through endless roads and almost barren neighborhoods. This natural rock formation is one of the most picturesque parks I’ve seen in the Los Angeles County. Once you exit the 118, anyone can spot this tasty-looking outcropping from a substantial distance away.

Although we didn’t actually find a proper entrance, we parked a couple blocks away and started walking right into a broken piece of fence by a freeway entrance on the opposite side. We ultimately got so lost that we ended up walking on the edge of a busy street with no marked sidewalks. But when we finally saw an old adventurer come out of the park with solid sweat and gratified exertion off his face, we prepared ourselves for the trek that lay ahead.

The interesting part of the park is the multitude of trails available, some more difficult than others. The exciting part began when we started losing sight of the paved trail. In order to escalate to the top, we continued to grab onto mounds of rock perched on larger boulders. Some of the climbs can prove themselves difficult for those who don’t regularly rock-climb or boulder, but it’s definitely a great place for those who even remotely enjoy crawling around rocks (or just challenging yourself!).

After an hour of climbing, we reached the peak of the “mountain.”

After taking in the views in unanticipated solitude, we prepared for our way back down. This time, we took a different path—one that looked as though a mudslide had occurred here years before. We soon recognized our initial entrance, but I suggested we walk in the opposite direction and check out more of the ground. Luckily, our aimless walking led us to this beauty: an old railway tunnel with signs honoring the lives lost during a collision that had occurred back in ’08. We found our way down after walking a little west towards a nearby equestrian center. No one in sight except us, we continued walking by the tracks.

Following our brief railway exploration, we walked out of the park with dirty hands, scratches, and no water left. In just a span of a few hours, I can confidently say that I too, had the resilient look of the man we saw upon entering before. A day well spent.

A word of caution: this park is packed with shattered pieces of glass and dead brush. Prepare to get your hands and legs dirty. Because the railroad tracks are restricted ground, I would highly suggest entering at your risk. Amtrak trains still run on these tracks and theft is a common issue for visitors. But if made it out in one piece, the experience is surreal.

“The world is big and I want to have a good look at it before it gets dark.” –John Muir

Stoney Point Park

Topanga Canyon Blvd.

Between Chatsworth St. & 118 Freeway

Chatsworth, CA 91311

A Day in the Life: Silver Lake, Los Angeles

As soon as summer vacation struck, I deliberately made sure that I would have a morning spent with my mother. Both coffee and café aesthetic enthusiasts, we decided to go have a sweet brunch over at Sqirl, a quaint little shop located behind lofty Tabebuia trees in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles.

You wouldn’t expect a café to be located in such a desolate part of the city. However, my mother and I have actually heard a lot about its presence since its opening year of 2011. Famously known for their homemade preserved jam, Sqirl has definitely added an entirely new meaning to brioche toast. 

After admiring crisp white marble countertops and vegan friendly menu options, we took a seat right by the window and enjoyed our delicious cup of joe.

I usually try my best to keep in touch with my parents during the school year, but there were inevitable plot holes that I filled her in on over the coffee. A quarter way into her pourover, our food came. I got the spinach/zucchini quiche and my mother got the brioche toast with ricotta cheese and strawberry thyme jam. Both we’re remarkably delicious.

A meal can go a much longer way with good company and welcoming ambience. Sqirl unquestionably fulfilled our first summer morning together. After flattering marble-eyed dogs drooling over surrounding food, we found a small florist/boutique settled on the same block called Twig & Twine. The front half of the establishment sold decorative items and unique lifestyle products while the back half was a studio where the owner, Heather, works on her latest flower arrangements. A number of her work sat on a central table in the middle of the store and my mother and I could not help but admire her meticulously curated collection. With a vintage flare and modern elegance, I had a growing confidence that I would turn to Heather for my future wedding bouquet.

"Look closely. The beautiful may be small." -Immanuel Kant

Sqirl

720 Virgil Ave. #4

Los Angeles, CA 90029

Tel (818) 284-8147

Twig & Twine

716 Virgil Ave.

Los Angeles, CA 90029

Tel (323) 660-4100