Toast to the spaces that inspire far-from-known art, music, literature, food, technology and everything else you could be looking for...

MACHINE PROJECT

I recently stumbled upon a "Pop up Pie Shop" advertisement in Los Angeles only to find that it's hosted by Machine Project, a non-profit community space in the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles investigating art, technology, natural history, science, music, literature, and food.  What more can you ask for?  THIS here is social entrepreneurship in it's finest grassroot form.  Machine Project is an Echo Park storefront that hosts events, workshops, and "site-specific installations using hands-on engagement to make rarefied knowledge accessible."  The concept around the space and its function fuels imagination and innovation.

Location: 1200-D North Alvarado Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026.  

paint lab

When I first moved to Los Angeles, the first place I wanted to see was Santa Monica.  I had moved across the country to be in Southern California, and already bitter about having to live inland to be close to work (avoiding 3 hours of driving a day), I found that the west side offered several reasons for me to hangout in Santa Monica every single weekend.  Paint Lab is one good reason.  It's an art studio for EVERYONE!  

For $30 you get a canvas, brushes, paints, cheese & wine!  What do you do from there?  Get inspired, paint and enjoy.  Instructors are available to provide direction if you ask for it.  For example, if you wanted to paint a piece similar to Monet's "Water Lillies" or Jackson's Pollocks action paintings, simply tell the instructor and they'll give you a few guidelines that will get you on your way toward your masterpiece!

Exile by kaiellemusic

THINGS I ENJOY MOST ABOUT

cold days in AUTUMN.

1.  Staying inside.  Wrapped up in a blanket, reading a book, listening to tunes that make you feel good and inhaling whiffs of beautifully scented candles.  Add in a snoring dog and you're golden.

 

2.  Deciding to go out with friends, but because it is so chilly outside (and let's face it, in LA we are never prepared for that), we decide to bunker into a bar playing hysterical rounds of Pictionary at Tony's Darts Away.  The best part about this bar: it's a bottle free, low waste bar/restaurant.  All of their beer, wine and sodas are served on a draught system, minimizing our environmental impact.  This food and beverages are organic when possible, and the menu is vegan friendly!

3.  Watching 40 Day Dream all stop-motion music video on repeat because I'd rather not go outside.

4.  Getting excited about escaping the mountains to snowboard and ski with friends, even though I really miss wakeboard season already.

5.  Looking forward to a holiday season's worth of after-work parties at places in LA I normally could not afford to go to.  Which means, it's time to shop for cocktail dresses.

6.  Planning a night of satisfying my musical appetite at the KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas Concert where some of my favorites, including but not limited to Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, Phoenix, The Black Keys, Temper Trap, Florence + the Machine...doesn't get much better than that.

7.  Planning winter camping trips in Big Bur and riding quads in Pismo, despite the frigid weather.

8.  Pumpkin Ale.

9.  A real bowl of good Ramen.

10.  Realizing that the craziness at work will die down soon after the holidays.

I hope everyone has a wonderful, safe and extremely fat Thanksgiving!

“For everything you have missed, you have gained something else, and for everything you gain, you lose something else.”

1.  The only thing that's constant is change.  So adapt.  If you always anticipate change, when it happens, it won't be such a shock, thus affording you more emotional stability.  Instead of getting overly excited about something great, or overly upset about misfortune, count your blessings and remain grateful.

2.  It is almost impossible to find people who will love you no matter what.  So when you find someone who does, hold on to them and give them the same.

3.  Extended vacations in foreign countries really are tests of any relationship (family, friends, lovers).  You must hope for the best, and prepare for the worst.

4.  Your current crises are only temporary.  And usually not as bad as you think.

5.  The food doesn't always taste better in Italy.  I'm just saying.

6.  Meditation and maintaining a healthy lifestyle are the best ways to get over a break up.  Turning to booze won't make you feel better unless you pop a multivitamin pill before you go to sleep to avoid a hangover (yes this actually works).

7.  Laughter is the best healing agent.

8.  It is perfectly okay to forget and NOT think for a few seconds or minutes.  But get back to reality and "flip the switch".

9.  It's okay to run away, as long as you come back soon.

10.  Don't try so hard to make yourself happy.  There is no need to force the feeling of content upon yourself, but do everything you can to put yourself in a better place.