Julius Shulman At the Movies

(Photo by Gerard Smulevich)

Our friend Jeff pointed out that of all the titles at the L.A. Film Festival, we might like this one the most.

Knowing our love of everything L.A. — not to mention our love of anyone and anything that chronicles our city — he’s got a point. “Visual Acoustics: The Modernism of Julius Shulman” chronicles the career of the famed photog — who, at 97 years old, is still busting out his camera and shooting L.A.

Dustin Hoffman narrates the film. From the website:

Taking its aesthetic cues from Shulman’s own sensual and nuanced photography, the film’s narrative is built from a blend of Shulman’s own images as well as in depth interviews with architect Frank Gehry, designer Tom Ford, artist Ed Ruscha, actress Kelly Lynch and writer Mitch Glazer, publisher Benedikt Taschen, Academy Award – nominated cinematographer Dante Spinotti, and a host of others.

In addition, the documentary hugely benefited from the dedicated involvement of Shulman himself, who offered exclusive access to his amazing photographic archive and intimate entre into his day-to-day life. Through the exploration of both Shulman’s art and uniquely individualistic life, Visual Acoustics offers an unforgettable portrait of Modernism’s most eloquent ambassador.

Shulman’s famed photos were recently organized into a show at the Central Library.

The June 22 screening of “Visual Acoustics” at the Landmark Theatre is sold out, but according to the site, there are still tix available for the June 25 show, at the Hammer Museum’s Billy Wilder Theater. Show starts at 4 p.m.

Julius Shulman At the Movies

(Photo by Gerard Smulevich)

Our friend Jeff pointed out that of all the titles at the L.A. Film Festival, we might like this one the most.

Knowing our love of everything L.A. — not to mention our love of anyone and anything that chronicles our city — he’s got a point. “Visual Acoustics: The Modernism of Julius Shulman” chronicles the career of the famed photog — who, at 97 years old, is still busting out his camera and shooting L.A.

Dustin Hoffman narrates the film. From the website:

Taking its aesthetic cues from Shulman’s own sensual and nuanced photography, the film’s narrative is built from a blend of Shulman’s own images as well as in depth interviews with architect Frank Gehry, designer Tom Ford, artist Ed Ruscha, actress Kelly Lynch and writer Mitch Glazer, publisher Benedikt Taschen, Academy Award – nominated cinematographer Dante Spinotti, and a host of others.

In addition, the documentary hugely benefited from the dedicated involvement of Shulman himself, who offered exclusive access to his amazing photographic archive and intimate entre into his day-to-day life. Through the exploration of both Shulman’s art and uniquely individualistic life, Visual Acoustics offers an unforgettable portrait of Modernism’s most eloquent ambassador.

Shulman’s famed photos were recently organized into a show at the Central Library.

The June 22 screening of “Visual Acoustics” at the Landmark Theatre is sold out, but according to the site, there are still tix available for the June 25 show, at the Hammer Museum’s Billy Wilder Theater. Show starts at 4 p.m.

Catching Crabs in Oxnard

We’ve been on a quickie road trip kick lately; you may remember our jaunt up to the Angeles National Forest to see the snow a few weeks back. That same weekend, we hit Oxnard.

Oxnard? As in, Ventura County, but not Ventura? Yes — and for one reason: Seafood.

Oxnard’s Fisherman’s Wharf (located at Channel Islands Harbor) is pretty much a sad shell of what I assume it once was; with redevelopment on the way, for now it’s mostly empty storefronts. But I kinda like it that way. The experience is almost that of heading to an old, run-down town in New England. Crowds are sparse, the buildings are closed, yet yes, it’s still alive with boats (we watched a Coast Guard vessel come ashore for lunch). The architecture is also very Cape Cod.

We came for lunch. While most of the wharf is empty, the Channel Islands Seafood Market is still open, and still packs a crowd. It was there where we met up with the extended family to celebrate the birthday of Maria’s brother Jeremy. Crab, fish, etc., all there and prepared to your specifications.

A few more pics:

Having been fed around the wharf for years, the birds here are aggressive. Our nephew walked a way from his plate for just a minute — but that was enough time for a pack of birds to swoop in and devour his slice of birthday pie.

Stay Classy, Oxnard!

Boats, kayaks, etc. rented here.

What will come of the Fisherman Wharf’s fake lighthouse, among other things, once redevelopment finally gets underway?

As the Ventura County Star has been covering, Oxnard has approved an almost complete teardown of its Fisherman’s Wharf, to be replaced by a new multi-use development.

The new development promises as much as 200,000 square feet of shops and restaurants and nearly 800 apartments. But it’s not without controversy:

Ventura County, which owns Channel Islands Harbor, spent years searching for someone to take on redevelopment of the crumbling Fisherman’s Wharf center. In June, the county awarded (developer Edward) Czuker a five-year lease, with an option for 65 more years, if he spends at least $20 million on improvements.

That lengthy deal has concerned some. Meanwhile, Czukerhas come up with a Mediterranean-themed set of three buildings that will house stores and restaurants on the first floor, with two to four floors of apartments.

A new Fisherman’s Wharf is still years away; plans aren’t expected to be approved by the California Coastal Commission until late 2009 or early 2010, the paper said.

That means you still have time to take in the solitude of the current Fisherman’s Wharf, before it turns into another dime-a-dozen mixed use property on the water. (Take the 101 north.)

Catching Crabs in Oxnard

We’ve been on a quickie road trip kick lately; you may remember our jaunt up to the Angeles National Forest to see the snow a few weeks back. That same weekend, we hit Oxnard.

Oxnard? As in, Ventura County, but not Ventura? Yes — and for one reason: Seafood.

Oxnard’s Fisherman’s Wharf (located at Channel Islands Harbor) is pretty much a sad shell of what I assume it once was; with redevelopment on the way, for now it’s mostly empty storefronts. But I kinda like it that way. The experience is almost that of heading to an old, run-down town in New England. Crowds are sparse, the buildings are closed, yet yes, it’s still alive with boats (we watched a Coast Guard vessel come ashore for lunch). The architecture is also very Cape Cod.

We came for lunch. While most of the wharf is empty, the Channel Islands Seafood Market is still open, and still packs a crowd. It was there where we met up with the extended family to celebrate the birthday of Maria’s brother Jeremy. Crab, fish, etc., all there and prepared to your specifications.

A few more pics:

Having been fed around the wharf for years, the birds here are aggressive. Our nephew walked a way from his plate for just a minute — but that was enough time for a pack of birds to swoop in and devour his slice of birthday pie.

Stay Classy, Oxnard!

Boats, kayaks, etc. rented here.

What will come of the Fisherman Wharf’s fake lighthouse, among other things, once redevelopment finally gets underway?

As the Ventura County Star has been covering, Oxnard has approved an almost complete teardown of its Fisherman’s Wharf, to be replaced by a new multi-use development.

The new development promises as much as 200,000 square feet of shops and restaurants and nearly 800 apartments. But it’s not without controversy:

Ventura County, which owns Channel Islands Harbor, spent years searching for someone to take on redevelopment of the crumbling Fisherman’s Wharf center. In June, the county awarded (developer Edward) Czuker a five-year lease, with an option for 65 more years, if he spends at least $20 million on improvements.

That lengthy deal has concerned some. Meanwhile, Czukerhas come up with a Mediterranean-themed set of three buildings that will house stores and restaurants on the first floor, with two to four floors of apartments.

A new Fisherman’s Wharf is still years away; plans aren’t expected to be approved by the California Coastal Commission until late 2009 or early 2010, the paper said.

That means you still have time to take in the solitude of the current Fisherman’s Wharf, before it turns into another dime-a-dozen mixed use property on the water. (Take the 101 north.)

The Final End of the Sears Auto Center Everyone Hated

The Hollywood home of the Sears Automotive Center everyone seemed to hate — I just liked the old Sears, Roebuck & Company sign above it — is finally being torn down. Sears moved out last year, in preparation for the new Paseo Plaza shopping center; Linoleum City is now sitting pretty in a brand new building (the famed sign is now on the building, as opposed to on top of it) down the street.

But the changes are happening. Some pics from this morning:

That Paseo Plaza sign had been up there for so many years that I seriously doubted that it would ever come to fruition. (Of course, maybe it still won’t — it’s a long way from demolition to construction.)

Tower Records’ Last Sunset Strip Stand

(Flickr pic by Zona Girl.)

Our friend Lizzy recently returned to Los Angeles after several years abroad. We filled her in on some of the goings on with us, as well as Los Angeles. She was most surprised, though, to learn that Tower Records was history. “Wait, all of it? The entire chain?” Yup.

For what was once a mighty chain, Tower disappeared rather quickly. Signs still adorn empty stores in some location, serving as a reminder… but it’s still bizarre to think that Tower is completely gone. (Well, the website lives on, but owned by a different entity. That’s like saying Montgomery Ward survives, as someone bought that name and runs a website as well.)

Now, as the Los Angeles Times reports, the building that housed the most famous Tower of all — the Sunset Strip location — might not survive much longer.

Writes the paper:

Preservationists complain that city leaders blocked their application to have a former Tower Records building declared a historic resource because color photographs of the brightly painted building were attached to the paperwork instead of black-and-white pictures that officials said were required.

As activists hunted for black-and-whites to add to the paperwork, a Chicago developer planning a multimillion-dollar office and retail complex at the record store site filed his building request at City Hall.

Now the iconic music industry landmark at 8801 W. Sunset Blvd. famous for its hundreds of impromptu rock ‘n’ roll performances and album signings awaits demolition.

Its iconic yellow facade has been repainted somber blue. Some preservationists are beginning to feel the same way.

Granted, the 1971 building isn’t an architectural treasure; preservationists value it for its place in Sunset Strip and music lore. They’d like to turn it into a West Hollywood rock ‘n roll museum. The developer has his own idea for how to honor that legacy:

Brian Lewis, a spokesman for Barket, said the proposed building’s nod to the site’s iconic past might include something like rock ‘n’ roll-themed decorations in the gym.

“We don’t want to forget that Tower Records played a role here,” Lewis said.

That’s a joke, right?

Tower Records’ Last Sunset Strip Stand

(Flickr pic by Zona Girl.)

Our friend Lizzy recently returned to Los Angeles after several years abroad. We filled her in on some of the goings on with us, as well as Los Angeles. She was most surprised, though, to learn that Tower Records was history. “Wait, all of it? The entire chain?” Yup.

For what was once a mighty chain, Tower disappeared rather quickly. Signs still adorn empty stores in some location, serving as a reminder… but it’s still bizarre to think that Tower is completely gone. (Well, the website lives on, but owned by a different entity. That’s like saying Montgomery Ward survives, as someone bought that name and runs a website as well.)

Now, as the Los Angeles Times reports, the building that housed the most famous Tower of all — the Sunset Strip location — might not survive much longer.

Writes the paper:

Preservationists complain that city leaders blocked their application to have a former Tower Records building declared a historic resource because color photographs of the brightly painted building were attached to the paperwork instead of black-and-white pictures that officials said were required.

As activists hunted for black-and-whites to add to the paperwork, a Chicago developer planning a multimillion-dollar office and retail complex at the record store site filed his building request at City Hall.

Now the iconic music industry landmark at 8801 W. Sunset Blvd. famous for its hundreds of impromptu rock ‘n’ roll performances and album signings awaits demolition.

Its iconic yellow facade has been repainted somber blue. Some preservationists are beginning to feel the same way.

Granted, the 1971 building isn’t an architectural treasure; preservationists value it for its place in Sunset Strip and music lore. They’d like to turn it into a West Hollywood rock ‘n roll museum. The developer has his own idea for how to honor that legacy:

Brian Lewis, a spokesman for Barket, said the proposed building’s nod to the site’s iconic past might include something like rock ‘n’ roll-themed decorations in the gym.

“We don’t want to forget that Tower Records played a role here,” Lewis said.

That’s a joke, right?

More Franchises, Less Wieners

(Flickr pic by Carmyarmyofme.)

Ahh, the continued franchise-ization of Los Angeles; we’re looking at you, Pinkberry.

Not to mention the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Cold Stone Creamery, Starbucks, Quiznos, Robeks, etc. The same chains that are popping up in every strip mall and every multi-use development ground floor all over town. Don’t get me wrong, I like the Coffee Bean; actually, I’ve been known to visit all of those spots. But as the Los Angeles Times’ Steve Hymon notes, it comes at a terrible price: The loss of unique independent shops like Sherman Oaks’ Wiener Factory (above).

The Wiener Factory is about to morph into a Pinkberry, and Hymon has seen enough:

a Valley institution is left with no home. The good news: Kevin Lentz, the Wiener Factory’s owner, says that he’s knee-deep in offers from fans of his restaurant to help relocate.

In an interview last week, we asked Lentz if he sees this as a parable for what’s happening around the city.

“When I was growing up here in the ’50s and ’60s, L.A. had a reputation that the streets were paved with gold,” he said. “It was a wonderful place to raise your kids, and there were mom and pops all over. They were family-run businesses. You would go in, and everyone knew you by your first name, and they took care of you.

“The business community nurtured the residents. Nowadays, with the franchises, it seems to be more cold. There doesn’t seem to be that personal interaction,” he added. “That’s something we’ve always tried to do here. And if we go out and open other locations, that’s not going to change.”

Thankfully, we do see a resurgence in entrepeneurs in some parts of town, like Eagle Rock. And don’t forget, not long ago, Pinkberry was just a one-store operation.

More Franchises, Less Wieners

(Flickr pic by Carmyarmyofme.)

Ahh, the continued franchise-ization of Los Angeles; we’re looking at you, Pinkberry.

Not to mention the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Cold Stone Creamery, Starbucks, Quiznos, Robeks, etc. The same chains that are popping up in every strip mall and every multi-use development ground floor all over town. Don’t get me wrong, I like the Coffee Bean; actually, I’ve been known to visit all of those spots. But as the Los Angeles Times’ Steve Hymon notes, it comes at a terrible price: The loss of unique independent shops like Sherman Oaks’ Wiener Factory (above).

The Wiener Factory is about to morph into a Pinkberry, and Hymon has seen enough:

a Valley institution is left with no home. The good news: Kevin Lentz, the Wiener Factory’s owner, says that he’s knee-deep in offers from fans of his restaurant to help relocate.

In an interview last week, we asked Lentz if he sees this as a parable for what’s happening around the city.

“When I was growing up here in the ’50s and ’60s, L.A. had a reputation that the streets were paved with gold,” he said. “It was a wonderful place to raise your kids, and there were mom and pops all over. They were family-run businesses. You would go in, and everyone knew you by your first name, and they took care of you.

“The business community nurtured the residents. Nowadays, with the franchises, it seems to be more cold. There doesn’t seem to be that personal interaction,” he added. “That’s something we’ve always tried to do here. And if we go out and open other locations, that’s not going to change.”

Thankfully, we do see a resurgence in entrepeneurs in some parts of town, like Eagle Rock. And don’t forget, not long ago, Pinkberry was just a one-store operation.

A Further Revitalization of Downtown, or Massive Boondoggle?

(Pic: L.A. Times)

I remain pretty uneasy over the Grand Avenue project, which the L.A. County Board of Supervisors and the L.A. City Council approved on Monday.

And it’s not just the tax breaks that bother me — although, considering the sweet parcel of land that Related Cos. is getting to develop, tax breaks just seem excessive. Nah, it’s also the fact that the development seems a little too generic to make the kind of impact that Eli Broad (who spearheaded the Grand Avenue campaign) and designer Frank Gehry say it will.

Yeah, I know — at least this is something. And any development that finally rids us of that awful parking lot across the street from Disney Hall should earn our respect. But again, I don’t think this was handled right at all.

Martini Republic captures that sentiment well in the post What’s Wrong with the Grand Avenue Plan, noting that the planned park between City Hall and the Music Center appears to be almost an after thought in the plans:

$50 million is not nearly enough to earmark for this space, nor should this space be a patchwork of programming. A great lawn is all too often a great yawn—and never should it play second fiddle to any kind of development, let alone a naked commercial one. A colorful garden—nice in a Sunset Magazine way, but where is the civitas? Where is the history of the City in this? And the same team promised wonderful gardens at the Disney Hall—and you know what they delivered in the line of gardens there—mere afterthoughts.

We need to do something theatric and dramatic with this space, not turn it into simply pleasant foliage with a suburban bend in the road. To guarantee that it doesn’t happen, we should not hand it over to banal practitioners of commerce.

Other cities have a Wailing Wall, an Arms of the Church, a Place de la Concorde, a Speaker’s Corner, a Sheep’s Meadow, in which the residents are invited to contemplate their greatness and acknowledge their failings. There is no better place in LA to do that than the space between City Hall and the Ferraro/ol’ DWP—and we’re on the verge of blowing it, handing it over to guys who dream of Banana Republics, whose only real promise is to put a few more dollars in the City coffers if we give them enough tax breaks to let them do what they want. It should not happen. Our civic identity should be better than that.

LA Times columnist Steve Lopez also registers his concerns:

At the risk of offending a man who could soon be my boss, we’re about to turn over one of the rarest and most precious commodities in Los Angeles — open space that’s owned by all of us — to a mega-development that could be dropped into any city anywhere.