Oscars Market

This was a market on the northern side of the Hotel Normandie building. I like the colors...well worn. It used to be a neon sign, but most of the neon is gone now.....just the outer light bulbs are still left.


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Wayne E. Heath

My wife happened upon this yesterday. A man by the name of Wayne E Heath passed away on May 15th. I had no idea who he was til I read his obituary. Turns out he was probably responsible for the majority of signs I'm trying to get on film. He and his partner started out painting signs, then moved onto designing them using neon, plastic, and paint colors never used before. He's responsible for the Felix Automotive sign on the corner of Figueroa and Jefferson (top) as well as the infamous Denny's sign and the neon display of the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas. A very talented man that I will always remember.


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Monthly Rotations

It's back to the best stuff out there....unheard funk and soul.

Black Smith - Jimmy Smith

Now Again on Wax - Various Classic Funk Artists

Looking Backwards (2001 - 1998) - (not classic soul) The Sound Providers

Stones Throw Records Podcast #4 - Madlib's 45 mix

and a couple classic soundtracks

Una Lucertola con la Pella Di Donna - Ennio Morricone

La Donna Invisible - Ennio Morricone




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Santa Monica Liquor

Finally an update! I've been pretty busy lately, so it's taken me awhile to find the time to get these out. PLUS, I haven't been out to take pictures, so the motivation has been waning. But fear not all 3 people who read this! I'm back, and can hopefully get out over the holiday weekend to snap some more photos.

This is a liquor store I pass on my way to work. Wilshire Blvd and 10th St. I never really noticed it til I started taking these pictures. At night half of it is lit up......it would be really cool if the liquor bottle-shaped neon lights would still work. I imagine they used to sequentially glow, leading the eye to the store. But alas, three or four are broken so I don't even think they light up regularly. I didn't even know they were shaped like bottles til I looked at this picture close.


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Leonardo's Dancing and Cocktails

Ah Leonardo's......I shot this when I was walking up La Brea.....it was about 2 blocks south of Wilshire Blvd. This sign's great, and so was the one below it....which I'll post later. But this restaurant looks like it's alot of fun. It just has the "fun' aire to it. The people dancing on the top of the sign and, or course, the "cocktails" underneath make this one of my favorites.



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Jose Lopez

Yesterday I made a drive into the valley to check out Jose Lopez's new sketchbook, "Mariachi Samurai". He was doing a signing at Earth 2 Comics on Ventura Blvd. The book turned out great! I've been following his blog for awhile and couldn't wait to see his sketches in book form. Really nice stuff, I'm a big fan of the cross genre that has erupted between comics and animated cartoons. The style's so fresh and the drawings speak volumes. As an animator I get such a kick out of seeing nicely done poses, great silhouettes and a strong line of action. I get giddy when I see a comic with that kind of drawing style. I love it! Great book, Jose!


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Dear John's

This is a restaurant on Culver Blvd, just west of Sepulveda Blvd. I've always liked the sign, the lampost and all. Very cool.

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