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jetpack_monkey) wrote2007-12-17 12:26 pm
jetpack_monkey) wrote2007-12-17 12:26 pm
Entry tags:
Stuff from Los Angeles
After a long car ride with ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
midnightfae, I finally arrived in Los Angeles Friday afternoon unscathed. My plan was to wander Hollywood for a while and do the tourist thing, but I made a logistical mistake. I forgot that I'd be hauling around my duffel bag (which I don't have a shoulder strap for anymore). So, after snapping some pictures of the handprints outside Grauman's Chinese Theatre, I promptly dumped myself in a Starbucks and polished off some more of the book I was engrossed in: "J-Horror" by long-time Video Watchdog contributor David Kalat. A fantastic book that really put Japanese horror into perspective for me (thanks to timjr for the present!).
Eventually,lizbetann and diannelamerc found me and we went to dinner (where we discussed NaNoWriMo and cannibalism -- not at the same time), followed by a spirited evening of being complete geeks. lizbetann proved to be a miracle worker, patching me into the Airport Wi-Fi on her Mac Mini so I could check my email.
Saturday,lizbetann and diannelamerc were gracious enough to wake up early (for them) so we could catch some breakfast (a very tasty breakfast) at this quaint patio restaurant with an ever-shifting sunlight problem. We had to be done at a specific time, because I had to run over a few blocks to visit my Uncle Forry.
Now, I don't actually have anyone in the family by that name, but every horror fan young and old has an Uncle Forry. "Famous Monsters of Filmland" editor Forrest J Ackerman opens up his LA condo to the public for one hour every Saturday (provided he's in town). Even at 91 and mostly immobilized by illness and with his wits somewhat dulled by the ravages of age, he's still a gracious and garrulous host, telling stories of the first time he saw Frankenstein and how he discovered the embarrassing contents of a missing scene in Fritz Lang's Metropolis (a film he claims to have seen 110 times). His condo his loaded to the point of almost impassibility with relics of science fiction and horror. His collection was once much larger, but financial issues forced him to sell most of it. What remains is modest and definitely reflects the pieces important to him rather than the most impressive memorabilia. I will have pictures up later.
I headed back and watched some vids withlizbetann and diannelamerc before they handed me off to airawyn for the remainder of the weekend. We headed out to Hamburger Hamlet for lunch, then circled back to Hollywood to visit Hollywood Book & Poster (sadly halved since the last time I was there in 2005). I picked up some back issues of Rue Morgue, Scary Monsters, Videoscope, and (most importantly) Video Watchdog. Say what you want about the ubiquitousness of information on the Internet, there's something to be said about the treasure troves found in the enthusiast's periodical.
After that,airawyn stopped by her work where she gave me the, and I quote, "nickel tour." It was worth at least a dime, if not five dollars. She works in a post-production facility that handles a lot of MGM stuff. Just peeking my head in the telecine rooms was like a bit of heaven. After that, we booked it to her company party, with the great food, free drinks, and fabulous prizes you might expect from an Industry shindig. Much fun was had, although I felt underdressed (I always feel underdressed, though).
Back atairawyn's, there was some watching of old school "Doctor Who" (an area of unfamiliarity for her) with "The Three Doctors". The first two parts, anyway, since I quickly became sleepy...
Call this the day of "Doctor Who". Aside from some stops to pick up food and an unsuccessful attempt to see Juno at the newly opened Sherman Oaks Arclight, we basically stayed in and watched "Who" all day. Finished up "The Three Doctors", then watched some New Who with "The Empty Child"/"The Doctor Dances", followed by some Tom Baker in the excellent "Robots of Death" and ending with Peter Davison in the confusing and overly complicated "Resurrection of the Daleks". Then I had to fly home.
Yeah, I'll never use LAX again. Especially not so late at night. A few delays, unfortunately, meant I didn't get in until after midnight. I rushed home, courtesy of Mom, and fedmidnightfae's animals. Then I went to bed. And that's all there is to tell.
Now I'm at work and rather bored with it. Can I be back in LA now please?
midnightfae, I finally arrived in Los Angeles Friday afternoon unscathed. My plan was to wander Hollywood for a while and do the tourist thing, but I made a logistical mistake. I forgot that I'd be hauling around my duffel bag (which I don't have a shoulder strap for anymore). So, after snapping some pictures of the handprints outside Grauman's Chinese Theatre, I promptly dumped myself in a Starbucks and polished off some more of the book I was engrossed in: "J-Horror" by long-time Video Watchdog contributor David Kalat. A fantastic book that really put Japanese horror into perspective for me (thanks to timjr for the present!). Eventually,
lizbetann and diannelamerc found me and we went to dinner (where we discussed NaNoWriMo and cannibalism -- not at the same time), followed by a spirited evening of being complete geeks. lizbetann proved to be a miracle worker, patching me into the Airport Wi-Fi on her Mac Mini so I could check my email.Saturday,
lizbetann and diannelamerc were gracious enough to wake up early (for them) so we could catch some breakfast (a very tasty breakfast) at this quaint patio restaurant with an ever-shifting sunlight problem. We had to be done at a specific time, because I had to run over a few blocks to visit my Uncle Forry. Now, I don't actually have anyone in the family by that name, but every horror fan young and old has an Uncle Forry. "Famous Monsters of Filmland" editor Forrest J Ackerman opens up his LA condo to the public for one hour every Saturday (provided he's in town). Even at 91 and mostly immobilized by illness and with his wits somewhat dulled by the ravages of age, he's still a gracious and garrulous host, telling stories of the first time he saw Frankenstein and how he discovered the embarrassing contents of a missing scene in Fritz Lang's Metropolis (a film he claims to have seen 110 times). His condo his loaded to the point of almost impassibility with relics of science fiction and horror. His collection was once much larger, but financial issues forced him to sell most of it. What remains is modest and definitely reflects the pieces important to him rather than the most impressive memorabilia. I will have pictures up later.
I headed back and watched some vids with
lizbetann and diannelamerc before they handed me off to airawyn for the remainder of the weekend. We headed out to Hamburger Hamlet for lunch, then circled back to Hollywood to visit Hollywood Book & Poster (sadly halved since the last time I was there in 2005). I picked up some back issues of Rue Morgue, Scary Monsters, Videoscope, and (most importantly) Video Watchdog. Say what you want about the ubiquitousness of information on the Internet, there's something to be said about the treasure troves found in the enthusiast's periodical.After that,
airawyn stopped by her work where she gave me the, and I quote, "nickel tour." It was worth at least a dime, if not five dollars. She works in a post-production facility that handles a lot of MGM stuff. Just peeking my head in the telecine rooms was like a bit of heaven. After that, we booked it to her company party, with the great food, free drinks, and fabulous prizes you might expect from an Industry shindig. Much fun was had, although I felt underdressed (I always feel underdressed, though).Back at
airawyn's, there was some watching of old school "Doctor Who" (an area of unfamiliarity for her) with "The Three Doctors". The first two parts, anyway, since I quickly became sleepy...Call this the day of "Doctor Who". Aside from some stops to pick up food and an unsuccessful attempt to see Juno at the newly opened Sherman Oaks Arclight, we basically stayed in and watched "Who" all day. Finished up "The Three Doctors", then watched some New Who with "The Empty Child"/"The Doctor Dances", followed by some Tom Baker in the excellent "Robots of Death" and ending with Peter Davison in the confusing and overly complicated "Resurrection of the Daleks". Then I had to fly home.
Yeah, I'll never use LAX again. Especially not so late at night. A few delays, unfortunately, meant I didn't get in until after midnight. I rushed home, courtesy of Mom, and fed
midnightfae's animals. Then I went to bed. And that's all there is to tell.Now I'm at work and rather bored with it. Can I be back in LA now please?
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