Michael Aushenker Palisadian Post

I was interviewed for the Palisadian Post newspaper. It's one of the earlier places where I got publishing experience. I worked there in 1989 or 1990, while I was a community college student in Santa Monica. I shot tons of photos, processed the film by hand, and printed camera ready art. I was the chief photographer in a small editorial staff of 5. The paper actually has an advertising staff, admin, paste up (which I'm sure is not digital), and their own printing press, which to me is a treasure to have, especially in an upper class neighborhood. Printing presses usually reside in crappy warehouses in industrial areas. This might be the richest press around - pound for pound! It sits behind the editorial offices on a chunk of commercial property in the Pacific Palisades. Recently they published a photo I took ages ago of a friends band, The Inclined, and now, they interview me for their paper. It's quite an honor. We'll see how it comes out.

Michael Aushenker is a familiar face from the comic book world. He's been working at the Post since January, and I'm sure he's doing a great job. He's able to extend his creativity for comics and indie culture to a neighborhood paper. I always knew that the job is what you make it, and it seems like he's having a good time.

Behind him a new billboard went up. I've never seen it happen, so this is what it looks like when they change the vinyls. The David Choe pieces got some air.

As did the Shepard Fairey.

But the big winner is Will Ferrell.

Squirrel Buddy

I'll be honest, I don't like squirrels, but it turns out, they actually have personalities. Most see a human and run for cover. Those are the ones I really dislike. There's one which I've noticed that doesn't run when people are around. It's skiddish, and freaks out if you make a sudden movement, but it'll get pretty close. It's she, so, she's been hanging out a lot lately, and today, I saw the thin tailed squirrel eating an avocado. Normally, I'd fight for that avocado, but not today.

I'm not sure if I like the paws on a squirrel, but maybe just this one is ok. I might give squirrels a break from now on out, just maybe.

Miya Ando Stanoff art Exhibition Bandini Gallery

That's sort of what we looked like at the Miya Ando Stanoff art exhibition. Her back story is amazing. She's the descendant of a sword maker. That's cousin Mike Idemoto and Eugenia Yuan. That's Miya above my cousin's left shoulder. This all took place at the Bandini gallery on Fairfax. The art is minimal style, sort of Rothko in a way, but it's all made out of metal, and with industrial finishing techniques, the work has tones and textures. I'm a little more into pop culture, so this type of work is something I'm not used to seeing.

Evidently, she's from Watsonville, a small town in California, where my mother's side has some roots. Miya now lives in Brooklyn and has art exhibitions all over. See her site here.

I liked this piece the most.

From the comments on Little Tokyo - a rehash - new place same story

Fooled you. I bet you thought it yet another tired food blog. I can't say I'm an expert or even near in on Little Tokyo or Japan town or any town. However, I am qualified to talk about the ownership of property, leases, and maybe a bit about the future. There's two comments I copied and pasted below after my post about Shojin. Never mind, that the food was really good, the comments are more about the dying mall in Little Tokyo where this great spot is located. It is a more important topic that happens everywhere.

Cue up Howard Jones song, "No One is to Blame" you can listen to this while you may or may not read this.



It's tough ride, when people or companies own properties. It's a balance of who's willing to put up money, and who's not. Korean businesspersons step up to buy, it's their right to do whatever they want, unless the city tags some kind of Historical Landmark on it. Yes it is too bad that the Japanese businesses will get pushed out. If Little Tokyo becomes the next Korea town, that's the direction that the dollars are going. Even in the micro version, Sawtelle, you're seeing more and more Korean owned businesses than ever. Pinkberry, TofuVilla... etc. Where are the third generation Japanese American developers and business owners? Where are the Japanese developers and or business owners? There's not a lot, and not enough, so that's how it goes. I wish I had a better answer, but there's not enough folks stepping up to the plate to make a difference. Instead, I do see greedy Japanese American landlords, who end up driving out other Japanese Americans from their own areas. It's a free market, right?

I've heard blame placed upon the youth who bring new cultures in. I've heard blame placed on the younger Japanese Americans as well for not stepping up, like I mentioned above. Yet, you have to also take into account the greed of the older Japanese Americans as well, who don't think about who they choose to sell to, and at what ridiculous rent amounts they attempt to stick onto their tenants. It's a cycle, and the truth is, it's not pretty. But then again, it's their land to do what they want, but when things change not to their liking, they have to look at themselves as well - but they won't. Keep in mind a lot of the landlords had the experience of WWII when they got their land and possessions taken away, so shit, if they want to cash out... you can't blame them. I've talked about this same exact thing before, but I'll keep saying it until people get it - which they won't.


Here's the comments:

1) Yeah, Little Tokyo is pretty much like San Francisco's Japan Town now. Koreans bought the New Otani. The Japanese Village Plaza was sold around the same time to another non-Japanese owner. And then I heard 3-D investment, the same people that bought the SF J-Town mall, bought the Little Tokyo Mall (The one that has the parking garage above it.

2) "While non-Japanese landlords of Little Tokyo properties have become common, this sale of the large shopping mall on Alameda Street will lead to a cultural change: Korean businesses, including a grocery, spa and electronics store, will replace the current Japanese tenants, said Ryan Oh of Coldwell Banker, who brokered the deal for the new owners." - LA Business..Article

Too bad the Japanese tenants have to go.

Shojin in Little Tokyo

The thin friendly waiter said that we have to try this. Before he did, he asked if we were vegan and how we found out about the place. Giant Robot was once in downtown LA. We were in a loft in Little Tokyo and I'd frequent the exact spot where Shojin restaurant is located. There was a spot called Cafe Lauren, which was one of the best around. Anyone been there? Recently, I took a walk through, just to see how things are in the mall. I ran into Shojin, it wasn't open for business yet, but it looked nice. Shojin to my knowledge is a Buddhist related meal. You'll eat Shojin food if you stay at a Buddhist temple. I'm sure the food won't be as extensive as what you get at Shojin in Little Tokyo.

Above: Organic Tomato Tartar. The white blocks: it's tofu cheese. I don't like cheese in general, so I had to ask what was in it. It's tofu and miso with tomato and avocado. It's a salad like appetizer that you pick at, and it's refreshing and tasty. The tofu does have a cheese like texture, but it taste like tofu. 

This is Tsukune or Fried Garden Seitan. It's a meat ball dish made with seitan that's quite simple, but the sauces were great.

The soy sauce with scallion had some sweetness to it. The other reddish sauce is a homemade ketchup which had a slight salsa flavor. I preferred the soy sauce. 

Yes many things are organic. They do their shopping at the farmer's market in downtown. Even the lemon in the water (if you ask for lemon) will be an organic lemon.

It's the same layout as Cafe Lauren.

I got the Shojin Okara Cake. It's not okra, it's okara, which is sort of like the dregs of tofu. This one is mixed with cashew, mushroom , and garlic. Certain Japanese markets will give it to you free, and if you know what you're doing, it turns out great. Below it is a brown rice porridge which tasted great with the okara.

This is the bento box. This has a little bit of everything. The BBQ Seitan in the left corner was amazing. Then raw kale with tofu was simple, Japanese pumpkin with some pumpkin seeds had some veggie bitterness, and hijiki which is a seaweed with carrot and gobo was tasty. It comes with brown rice. This is the healthiest dish they serve.

Whoa there... That's what I had to say when this came. Green Tea Moss Cake. It's larger than it looks when it shows up. It's the green tea, azuki bean, and date, cake that comes with rice cream. There's toasted almond, dried apple bits, and oats and matcha sauce.

Shojin is located on the top floor of the Mitsuwa market building in Little Tokyo. Park at level four, walk across the bridge, and take in your parking ticket for validation. It's not a quick rush place, and it's not super slow, but it's comfortable, and a great vibe. No need to rush here. It wasn't crowded on a friday night, so this is a spot to support. They have simple stuff like pasta, curry, and other seitan dishes, along with soups and salads.

I don't want to be a downer and say that this mall is dying, but compared to ten years ago, when there was an arcade, and before that, a bowling alley, and then many years before that, a movie theater, I wonder what's going to happen here. Either way, this is a place to check out whether you're vegan or not. It's great healthy food and the staff might be the nicest I've ever experienced. You'll feel great leaving know that you're supporting the people, food, and the spirit of this place. Dinner entrees might be 10-17.

333 S. Alameda St #310 LA 90013 213-617-0305

wed, thurs, sun 12-10p.

fri, sat 12-11p

gr/eats lunch with Monkmus

That's Monkmus, a director, drawer, animator, who joined up at lunch time today at gr/eats. It's a nice warm day today, and a friday which makes a lot of people happy, but in the end, it's like another day for me at GR. Saturday is almost like a monday or a tuesday. A Sunday... well, that's like a wed or a friday. Monday is just like a tuesday, which is like a wednesday and thursday and a Saturday. I'm not making much sense, but you get the idea. Like in a Debby Deb lyric (or the opposite): Weekends are not made for fun.

Meanwhile gr/eats keeps rockin' serious. That's the okra rolls above. 

Tofu meat balls.

Tofu meal ball "oyako" donburi. Of course oyako means parent and kid, which is like chicken and an egg, but this is tofu ball and egg. Hmm, can they be related?

1/2 paella. Yes, this was good.

That's the middle of the tofu ball.

SPORE! Vote?

I don't know much about what this game is about, but you can work with the characters and build your own monster. This is mine, Green Machine. Know what a Green Machine is? It was like a Big Wheel for kids, but cooler. This has an eco vibe and can still kick ass in a "green" manner. You can vote for me, I'm on the second page, which is lame, and there's no direct link. I guess I'm at the bottom of their list. Vote!

Giant Robot Softball

It randomly shows up in the email today, this is the team that I play on thursday nights. We're actually in first place right now. See Jason on the far upper left? Then there's Greg, me, Sean, Marc, Sada, Will, and in the front left, that's Paul, Bill, Bryant, Mike, and Chi. It's weird how the entire bottom row smiled, and the top didn't (almost). We didn't set that up.

Tofu Villa Sawtelle

I'm excited. Usually, you have to go to Koreatown to get good soontofu. But now on Sawtelle, next to Beard Papa is Tofu Villa. At the spot of a past boba shop, this place is the first on the westside that I think actually rocks. I can't exactly say it's better than my favorite K-Town spots, but this isn't bad at all. Bad soontofu usually is watery with chunks of tofu floating about, but this one is just right.

They start you off with tofu in another form. Cold with a sesame sauce.

Then the banchan shows up. From left to right and top to down: Fried tofu, jopchae, dried seaweed, kimchee, broccoli with tofu curd, a sauce, I realize I dunno what that was for. Squid. Potato salad, and oi kimchee.

I forgot to shoot this when it first came. I order it mild, so you don't get that intense red color. If you're a fan of soontofu, I think this will do the trick. Of course, they have pibimbap, BBQ meats, and it advertises that they open until midnight, and on the weekends 2am! But keep in mind, that'll change as they realize people won't be there that late. Tonight they said they close at 10:30pm instead of midnight. 

Tofu Villa 2130 Sawtelle 112a, WLA, CA 90025

2 FREE TACOS at Jack in the Box THURS JUNE 26th

You'd think Jack in the Box in Giant Robot? Yes, they do advertise in GR. If the Lakers keep their opponents under 100 points, they're give away a free taco. But this is different and the focus of fast food is changing - I think. I suppose Jack in the Box is reaching out to tons of people who could use a break. It's almost weird.

So bring in a gas receipt, any receipt, it can be from a previous day or week. Take it in to any Jack in Box and you'll get 2 free tacos. In some people's books, this is a meal. Check out Jack talking about it here at the JIB's site.


Jack Feels Your (Gas) Pain!
Jack in the Box® Restaurants to Offer Two Free Tacos to Guests with Gas Receipt on June 26. Jack in the Box restaurants will give away two free tacos to guests who present a valid gas receipt. Limit of one order of tacos per guest. No purchase necessary. Duplicates or copies will not be accepted.

Rage at the Cage

That's king Bill swinging the bat. It looks like he cleaned up this little loopey dip he was doing. He was slamming the ball clean. That's big Jason on the bottom. He can hit the ball hard and if you're trying to do a double play at 2nd, guess who's going to slide into you. He was a linebacker in highschool. I'd get out of the way. These dudes go to the batting cage every week, and on thursday is game time. I'm on the team too, and I should go more often, but sometimes, I can't.

I notice batting cages are in Japanese movies a lot. When is the last time you've seen an American movie that has a scene at an amusement park-like batting cage?

Angry Asian Man

I had lunch with Phil Yu, aka, Angry Asian Man. He's been doing this blog for years, before the word blog existed - maybe. It's cool to hear about how he started, his view points, how he does his stuff, and his overall humbleness. This photo is probably the goofier side of him, and he's not really angry, and you'll see him smile just like this. angryasianman.com

La Isla Bonita

No one beats this truck. It's parked on Rose, between 4th and 5th. Everyday but thursday, not at night. Everything is good, although I don't care that much for the shrimp tostada. But everything else, is perfection. Ceviche, mixtas (which is a ceviche with a ton of seafood on top), cocktail camarones or try the everything - campechana. The tacos are great too. There's no wrong at this truck. I've been eating there since 1989. No lie. The two chicas are eating the ceviche, which are incredible. You can order, eat and order more and eat, and they'll run a tab for you. It's a chill environment. I always leave a tip. They're great folks.

That's Tony, he was showing off the new side of the truck. Little clay fishes that were made by his friend. We asked what that curl thing is. See it on the edge of the photo above, and on the left side on the photo below? He said that's the whirlpool that happens when the fish swim in circles. It looks like a cinnamon roll. Say hi to Tony. He's the nicest guy around. 

Buddhist Temple yard sale scores

So who cares? A plane, a tin airport, some firetrucks. I guess at one time, an airport set was cool. It was when flight was still glam. Remember days way back where you almost felt like you had to dress up to get in a plane? As a small kid, there were days like that. The idea of airbus didn't exist. The word bus and plane couldn't be in the same sentence, much less now one word. There was no Southwest, JetBlue, or Virgin, instead it was Pan Am where the stewardesses were all so hot and dressed to impress. There was actually cool silverware, and cups, and detail. So the kit above may not look it, but it embodies a time that's long gone. Meanwhile, look at the graphics of the Chinese Checkers set. 

Ok sounds gross but rice picker hat circle jerk. First one done, wins. Easy cleaning that becomes fish food in the pond. Yes, I'm gross.

Whoa there. Doggie. Looks at the kid holding up the table for the people in the cyclos.

This one is odd. He's even wearing getta.

Classic.

Strip checkers

That looks like a female Long Duk Dong in the back. The kid leaning on the lady is weird.

Deathcabforcutie

Dirty Hands World Premier - Harry Kim and David Choe Los Angeles Film Festival - The Crest

I like Photos of Harry Kim and David Choe. This one says it all, doesn't it? It was before the film, Dirty Hands was to start. Harry holds a bouquet of flowers. Harry with flowers! He's holding up a ticket to get in and he's wearing a tie-dye t shirt that says, Arizona on it. David stands next to him, with a Sharpie and film festival badge in hand, arm around his great friend. Both not knowing how other directors might handle a beginning of a film festival film, often with red carpet bravado and pompousness. This was the opposite. It was as if they handed the keys to the prison to the inmates. Everything was turned on it's head. Yet, a huge staff of support was there for the film, even if it was just from friends. Meanwhile, a line spanned down the block. It was long. 

Dirty Hands website.
Meet the parents. Harry Kim's parents on the left, David Choe's parents on the right. None had seen the film yet. They were proud to wear the Dirty Hands T shirt by Upper Playground. That alone was a great sight. They had no idea what was upcoming and what adventures their kids went on together over the last 8 years. Seeing each other was a great start. Here's a little back story. Evidently, Harry got into trouble perhaps at the hands of David's older brother. The Kim's were apprehensive of the Choe clan, they haven't spoken in years and years. The film brought them out and together last night. It was a sight at the after film party at Asuka restaurant next door. The elder Koreans sat at a table, talked, and were often seen pointing fingers happily at their kids. Something was brewing and only they know what that is, but being proud was definitely part of it.  The crowd was energetic, they laughed, clapped, and I only heard great things about the film.

Here's that long, long line. Some got turned away. The theater was packed for this film. If you got in, it was a special night. David Choe hid out and didn't want to be in the awkward scene of having his parents see him say and do the nuttiest things. I introduced the film, and that was actually tough, since, it's easy to talk about David Choe, but this time, it was about Harry, and he got a huge cheer when I mentioned his name. The film went off without a hitch. I video taped the Q and A, and I'll see if I can get that up soon.

My friend Bobby Hundreds. We stood next to each other after the film, taking it in. A nice dude walked by and said, "whoa, my two favorite bloggers next to each other." I figured that was Bobby's friend and I got to ride his coat tail for a second.

That's David before the film.

David and James Jean, the cover artist of Giant Robot 54. We sponsored the after party at Asuka. See the banner that's sagging? Dave put it up. He doesn't know tape as well as paint.

Dave signs Converse. He's featured in an ad for Converse, wish we got that ad in the mag. 

That's Jessica Sanders, filmmaker - a true paparazzi shot.

This guy got everything.

The scene at Asuka. You can actually make out the parents in the background in the black t shirts!

After after party at Barcade in Korea town. You can actually play games inside. We were there until near 4am.

It was Harry's night, and maybe year. I can't tell you how proud I am of this dude. People discount Harry a lot. Imagine, Dave's a world famous type of artist, there's been this dude tagging along shooting footage. No one has seen much, and it's been dragging so long, it seems like it would never ever come out. But lo and behold, this man has major talent along with his staff. Great editing job as well.

That's big brother, Jimmy Choe on the left.

Even though Harry had a great time, David sat on his face, sweaty nuts to the chin. In this way, these dudes haven't grown up at all. 

That's Yoshi Obayashi, he's a comedian, his brother is a pro skater with the same name.

The night obviously ends in Korean food. The weird thing was that at almost 5am, there was a soccer game on, and I'm sure it was Korea playing, and there were people actually there to watch.