Posted June 23rd, 2009 by Meg
Because they are still in their original shipping packaging. I am hoping that if I post about them, maybe… just maybe, I will get around to buying frames and hanging them up. On numerous Target trips, I have stood contemplating whether or not to purchase cheap, but still kind of expensive, frames. In the end, I always decide against it because of the poor quality. I want to get them professionally framed, but am conflicted because it will probably cost more to have them framed than it cost to purchase the art itself. We’ll see what happens. But for now, enjoy what should be hanging from my walls! :)
Fake Beard by Jay Ryan
Flood by Jaclyn Mednicov
Stacked Upon by Jaclyn Mednicov
Check out Jay Ryan’s store, The Bird Machine. Find Jaclyn Mednicov (and other cool artists) at the great marketplace of design: 20×200.
Posted October 29th, 2008 by Meg
For so long I have wanted to go to the cafe, art space, and store that is Royal T café, but there were always hurdles in my way. One time they were closed. One time I couldn’t rally the troops to go. One time I forgot it existed. But then one lonely day I remembered. Supposedly, it is the first cosplay cafe in Los Angeles. What is cosplay restaurant you ask? Well I’ll tell you. Cosplay are theme restaurants and pubs that originated in the Akihabara district of Tokyo around the year 2000. They include maid cafés and butler cafés, where the service staff dress as elegant maids (or as butlers). Compared with service at normal cafés, the service at cosplay cafés involves the creation of a rather different atmosphere. The staff treat the customers as masters and mistresses in a private home rather than merely as café customers. Which is pleasant when you consider how many rude baristi one encounters in a lifetime. Royal T’s waitresses are dressed in “maid kissa” uniforms designed by Lun*na Menoh (who designed similar costumes at Takashi Murakami’s exhibit at the MOCA ). The concept and design of Royal T is the work of Takaya Goto and Lesley Chi of Goto Design.
When I walked in I immediately thought: It’s kind of like if Kid Robot had a baby with Giant Robot and this child served food. Here is a picture of what the waitresses look like. I found it on Lun*na Menoh’s website. I was way too shy to ask for a picture while I was there; they are in character (high pitched voices, super duper overly friendly and nice) which I found to be intimidating.
First I walked around and looked at the store. Here are pictures of some of my favorite things I saw (Killer Cupcake, Fake Louise, Shoplifter Bag, and my favorite, Chanel Matches)
I didn’t take many photos of the art on the wall, but I did think this piece was cool. I am pretty sure it is Murakami’s work. Correct me if I’m wrong.
After the art, I sat down for some tea. Their menu is a fusion of French, Japanese, and Californian. Breakfast (granola, french toast, baked eggs), Lunch/Dinner (salads, sandwiches, rice bowls), and High Tea (the mix of everything for 20 dollars). I ordered the Royal T Milk Tea black tea with rose petals, pieces of fruit, and vanilla brewed in soymilk. As you can see in the picture, those are the bodum’s double walled glassware that is talked about highly throughout yelp reviews. It makes the experience very aesthetically pleasing. The tea was copious and delicious. I have a habit of finishing things even when I am full because I don’t like to waste. This was worth it though.
Although my maidtress told me that the brownie was probably the best dessert to order, I had to order the Sesesame Bean Sensation, a sweet sesame cake with tons of sesame oil and sugar. I am not the most knowledgable on these little squares of goodness, but I was able to recognize that it tasted very good. I would order it again, but I did see out of the corner of my eye someone else’s brownie and it looked quite decadent and delicious. So who knows what will happen next time I am there.
Hopefully, I will be able to return again soon. Not by myself. With enough money to buy Chanel matches.
Royal T
8910 Washington Blvd
Culver City, CA 90232
(310) 559-6300
Posted October 28th, 2008 by Meg
I also am getting Jay Ryan’s A Dozen Walrus for my walls:
One day a year or two ago I completely forgot what a walrus was. I knew I was supposed to know the word. I mean, everyone knows what they are! But, that one day it just did not register. I repeated the word over and over again…walrus, wallruss, wall-rus…but nothing came to mind. Tomato.
Posted October 28th, 2008 by Meg
Spent most of the day in bed. Tried writing a post, but didn’t have the energy to finish it. Will make another attempt at it tomorrow. A lot on my plate, but unfortunately it’s not food. I’m going to watch Heroes right now. However, today I registered for the 31st Annual Santa Monica - Venice Christmas Run (10K). And, I am also going to be getting this poster by Jay Ryan that I fell in love with to decorate my walls: Swimming Diplodocus.
Posted September 4th, 2008 by Meg
Last Saturday, my boyfriend and I traveled downtown to the LA Firehouse to check out the Cannibal Flower Show. Sadly, the event has nothing to do with cannibals or flowers, but what it lacks in flesh eating flora it makes up for with crazy local art of all forms! The Cannibal Flower Show is a portable venue art exhibit that occurs once a month. It started in 2000, when a couple of artists solved the problem of dealing with conventional art gallery politics (slides, pitching, jumping through flaming hoops) by using alternative, transient spaces to showcase the underground art and music of the city. In 2006, they opened a walk-in permanent location, Thinkspace Gallery, which is now located on Sunset Junction.
We arrived before the event started, but they were kind of enough to let us in early (admission was eight dollars). The featured artist of the exhibit was Eric Montoya. His art makes your eyes do the equivalent to squats and lunges; seeing things in things is how I naively describe it. More specifically, seeing hidden faces in flowers and nature. It is pretty incredible. There was one painting of his at the exhibit that I was unable to see anything beyond the nature, making me wonder if it was done purposely to mess with the observer’s brain or if there was something there, but my eyes are just unable to perceive. Please look at a few of his pieces that have obvious hidden faces in them, like Introduction or Wistful, and then take a look at Carpe Diem and tell me whether I am:
a) Blind as a bat! It’s so obviously right there!
b) Super right! There is nothing there! (or we both need to see an eye doctor)
We left before the music started playing, because we are sometimes a boring couple. In retrospect, I wish I had stayed because apparently the event turns out to be a raucous party. Maybe next month!
Cannibal Flower Show
Los Angeles, California
(310) 397-2244
theirspace
