they demolished the star theatre (where jimmy smack taught dance and d boon would rent sometimes to put on gigs, renaming it “the union” for the night) on pacific avenue in my pedro town years ago and this is what’s there now: some bunker building w/an “art lot” next to it. crimony.
photo by mike watt
– – – – –
mike watt’s hoot page
Images courtesy of Umami Burger.
Savor free hamburgers, French fries, and milkshakes — along with gasoline prices right out of the 1960’s — during a celebration of ABC’s new reboot of the iconic TV show “The Wonder Years.”
It’s all happening at a gas station at the corner of Highland Ave. and Franklin Ave. Located next to the Lowe’s Hotel, the station has been transformed into a ‘60s time capsule. There, 35-cents-per-gallon gas and free food from C3 will be available on Tuesday, September 21 and Wednesday, September 22.
C3 is the company behind Umami Burger and Citizens Food Hall, among other renowned eateries, so you know the menu, devised by C3’s Executive Director of Culinary & Menu, should be a delicious one.
This nostalgic, vintage-inspired experience event goes from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days (or until supplies last). Just pull up your car at 1787 Highland Avenue and order your cheeseburger, fries, and milkshake to go.
The event was produced in collaboration with Experiential Supply Company, creators of Haunt O’ Ween LA and WonderLAnd. The reboot of “The Wonder Years” debuts this Wednesday, September 22.
Wife Of A Spy is an exquisitely crafted film from Japanese director Kiyoshi Kurosawa (Pulse, Cure, Tokyo Sonata). The film, in Japanese with English subtitles, takes place in Kobe, Japan, pre-war 1940. Satoko (Yū Aoi, Japan Society’s 2021 Honoree) is a housewife and amateur film actress married to Yusaku (Issey Takahashi, Kill Bill), a very well to do fabric and clothing trader in 1940 Kobe. Yusaku is also a passionate amateur filmmaker.
The story revolves around Yusaku’s weeks long trip to Manchuria where he shoots film footage and gets documentation from a doctor who collaborated on the Manchurian Testing and Massacre. This event, well documented today, was a program to design and test out Biological Weapons including plague on the Manchurian population. Yusaku tries to keep Satoko from finding out, wanting her to just live a “happy life”. However, as Satoko reads things, Yusaku went to Manchuria, having an affair with a pretty Japanese woman who was a nurse there. She starts investigating, believing that she is the Wife Of A Spy.
“Black Widow” (2021, Marvel Studios) Setting aside the legal hullaballoo between Disney and star Scarlett Johansson, this long-gestating solo adventure for the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s perennial bridesmaid has a wealth of aesthetic high points but ultimately underserves the character. As Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow, Johanssen has been a refreshing wild card in the MCU’s hero parade, bound to do right by her own conscience than by nation-building or call of duty. This flashback adventure, poised somewhere between “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” and “Avengers: Infinity War,” gives her a chance to set right the secret society machinations that made her a world-class killer, but gives the showy material to Florence Pugh as flippant little sister Yelena and David Harbour as ersatz dad Red Guardian. Handing over the best lines and set pieces to the new players leaves Johansson in time-to-make-the-donuts mode, leaping and swinging to each shoot-out and blow-up with dutiful vigor, which is the opposite of her barnstorming presence in the previous MCU titles. She does have some amusing bits of sibling banter with Pugh, who as the de rigueur post-credits scene shows, is already slated to assume a dominant role in future Marvel media; Harbour and Rachel Weisz, as Romanoff’s steely mother figure, also deserve second showcases. Marvel’s region-free Blu-ray offers deleted scenes, a gag reel and featurettes on the film’s cast and impressive action sequences.
For all the obits I’ve written over the years, this one eludes me, because it transcends the others by light years. My beat is erratic; my rhythm is off. My palpitating heart is broken. The kindly gentleman with the ferocious spirit, behind the tiny drum kit, in front of millions, was the metronome that put us all in sync. This is no small thing. And he never seemed to know just how beloved he is.
When I met him, he was charming, quiet, interested, connected. He asked us questions, he introduced his handler, he sent back pics, he signed “Thank you, Charlie Watts.” He was grateful and wanted us to know that. Though humble, he was indeed a god figure from the pantheon of legends, and therefore, was immortal. Or so we thought.
This year had already taken enough, hadn’t it? Murder hornets, be damned, 2021 had one more trick up its sleeve. It would kill the greatest band to ever perform live. Because make no mistake, whether they continue or not, the Stones proper died with Charlie. For me, anyway. This is a game-changer. The existential fallout is dystopian and depressing. They were kind of “it.” For large shows that took you out of your skin and sent you to the highest reaches and made you feel targeted and special just for being there. One small man with the shy smile carried us all on his shoulders.
The news came shortly after the news of my dear uncle’s passing. They shared some of the same qualities: a quiet strength of character, understated humor, a caring you could count on. I truly feel like I’ve lost two family members. The warm uncles you took for granted would always be there, the backbone of the family you were born into and the family you chose.
You will be forever missed and loved. And that is the world’s greatest understatement.
Sa’moto’s Doheny Combination. Photos by Karin E. Baker for The LA Beat.
Chef Masaharu Morimoto (“Iron Chef” and “Iron Chef America”) has opened a new restaurant in LA. Located within the Doheny Room on Santa Monica Blvd. in West Hollywood, Sa’moto serves pan-Asian cuisine in a glamorous setting.
Chef Morimoto is internationally known for the “Iron Chef” TV shows and his restaurants located around the globe. His many eateries include locations in Mexico City, Tokyo, Hawaii, Mumbai, and Las Vegas. Morimoto has earned a Michelin Star and a James Beard Foundation Award, and authored two award-winning cookbooks.
Though Chef Morimoto’s menu here leans toward Japanese, it’s accented with global influences. You’ll want to watch Sa’moto’s chefs artfully assemble sushi and smoke ceviche in front of the huge, mural-like photo of Raquel Welch on the beach.
Don’t miss the addictive Popcorn Shrimp Tempura. Presented three ways, the flavorful shrimp is coated in sweet gochujang, wasabi cream, or spiced aioli.
my buddy dirk vandenberg at his shoppe getting ready to get together some raps for our latest sock-tight proj, “puppanomics” which I think is gonna be kickin like kato…
photo by mike watt
– – – – –
mike watt’s hoot page
I had a great time watching five feisty and fabulous Hollywood Fringe solo shows online this year. I would have preferred to see them in person at the Broadwater Theatre – Black Box on Santa Monica Boulevard, but with the current Covid climate, I thought watching them online would be best. There was so much talent and creativity on the stage.
This year I had the pleasure of watching Naturally Tan. written and starring Tanya Thomas, which won both Pick of Fringe and Best of Broadwater, I Heart Maroc written and starring Azo Safo, which also won Best of Bridgewater, REDEEMher written and starring Tatum Langton , The Whistleblower written and starring Johnny Avila and I Have Too Many Feelings, written and starring Bethany Vee. All these terrific solo shows were developed and directed by the talented Jessica Lynn Johnson.
“Grizzly” (1976, Severin Films) “Jaws” in a nature park, essentially, with ranger Christopher George, helicopter pilot Andrew Prine, and scientist Richard Jaeckel battling “18 feet of gut-crunching, man-eating terror” (to the quote the one-sheet, featuring art by Neal Adams). William Girdler‘s indie thriller is an unabashed carbon, but also an enthusiastic one, with a trio of entertaining leads (especially Prine as a blissed-out, ersatz Quint), and the right mix of pulp dialogue and outrageous set pieces (bear vs. ranger tower, and bear vs. bazooka). A massive hit for regional filmmaker Girdler, who also directed George in the outrageous “Day of the Animals“; Severin’s Blu-ray has two commentary tracks (writers Nathaniel Thompson and Troy Howarth on one, and producer David Sheldon and co-star Joan McCall on the other), a detailed look at Girdler’s career, interviews with Sheldon, McCall, and co-star Tom Arcuragi, and vintage making-of featurettes and trailers.
Deep-fried PB&J Sandwich at Lock & Key. Photos by Karin E. Baker for The LA Beat.
Like so many bars and restaurants in Los Angeles and around the country, Lock & Key had a rough go of it recently.
Soon after the pandemic began, the Koreatown craft cocktail den pivoted to serving customers from its to-go window near Vermont and 3rd Street. Unfortunately, Covid’s onset was only the beginning of the challenges.
The day after reopening for take-out only, a fire next door flooded Lock & Key’s kitchen. Two weeks later, a second fire caused additional damage. While closed, Lock & Key was then robbed. Lock & Key took a year-long hiatus, but the K-Town spot is back and as lively as ever.
Beginning in 2009, Lock & Key owner Cyrus Batchan spent many evenings in K-Town enjoying the nightlife and restaurants with friends. While a big fan of the neighborhood’s hospitality and vitality, Cyrus realized that there was also room for something different than the soju-based cocktails that dominated menus. “When we opened, this was the only non-Korean bar in the neighborhood. I couldn’t get the cocktail experience I wanted.”
