End of Summer Picnic

 D E B S   P A R K  

  Last Sunday, I was invited to a picnic in the park to celebrate the end of summer, and the beginning of blustery fall.  Bring on the sweater weather, Los Angeles!  I was so happy in my chunky knit cardigan, hanging out with good friends, munching on yummy treats, and getting crafty. 

  This is the second time I got to hang out at Debs Park, located in the hills of Highland Park. I recommend taking a stroll because there is so much to look at.  There are great views to gaze upon our smoggy, LA sunsets.  Pink and purple sky is the best, right?!  There is a lake at Debs that I have not yet seen, but I vow to the next time I am there.  Beautiful place all around.

  

paper flowers + pumpkins covered in glitter = ! ! !

  Check out Serge's handiwork!  We were all kind of jealous.

* M A G I C   H O U R  *

I really do love shiny things

All images © Ava Alamshah

your friend,

ava

Waiting for the Fall

  This LA summer hasn't been that bad.  I mean, it's been really, ridiculously hot, but that is good for beach days (I need one of those), and maybe evening picnics (in the shade), and the summer is great for sipping on cold beverages while hanging out on your porch (if you have a porch), or sitting on your front steps, or the grass, or in your air conditioned vehicle....

  I love the summer and need to take more advantage of it while I house sit this week for my friend's Alex and Britt.  I'll be documenting my stay and cannot wait to see what I come up with.  Highland Park and Montecito Heights are rich with history, and I love to explore that area.  I'll be snapping photos during that exploration and taking in the scenery.  More on that very soon!

  While we bask in the sunlight, here is something to look forward to in the Fall/Winter.  I am dying over these J.Crew for Fall ensembles.  So chic and classic with a colorful twist. 

W A N T

I absolutely love this bright coral dress and that drop waist.  This one is on my wish list!  All you need is some pink lipstick and heels! So elegant. 

I love how outfits are put together for this company.  They come up with great combinations that I would never even think of.  That skirt and sweater together is just gorgeous, with those red shoes and everything.....SO RAD!  A stand out for the next New Years Eve bash!

Cable knit and sequence? Sign me up! 

This whole outfit is a winner.  Something Bianca Jagger would have worn at Studio 54.  She puts my 30th birthday party to shame, btw.

xx

your friend,

ava

G O   T O   T H E   B E A C H   ! ! !

  

S W I N E update!

A T T E N T I O N !  * * Los Angeles friends* *


You can rent a copy of Swine from the Echo Park Film Center for just two bucks! I love the EPFC, and was introduced to that place by my friend, Brad.  Bradley was the cinematographer/editor for Swine and use to take classes under Paolo, EPFC owner and all around nice guy.  It's also located on my most favorite block in Echo Park, on Alvarado, in between Sunset and Reservoir.  Next door to the film center is Machine Project, and right next door to that you've got the downbeat cafe.  So have some green tea (my beverage of choice), see an art opening and check out a 5 dollar screening all in the same night!  You can't beat it.  If you haven't seen my post about the film and our epic premiere night...click here. 


And now, here's executive producer, Koren Young. 

your friend,




ava

Burbank (Part One)

This photo was taken a few weeks back in Burbank.  I thought this wall looked really 70s and fit very well with what Jeaux calls, my "Big Lebowski" sweater.  I love the way the lines flow in contrast with the patterns.  Some parts of Burbank are like stepping back in time, and I really recommend a visit.  Lots of mom and pops are still in business, like Tony's Bella Vista Ristorante, which hasn't changed one bit.  I was born in Glendale, and I remember going to this little Italian eatery with my parents. I couldn't have been more than 3 or 4 years old at the time. I remember a lot of red, and last year I took Jeaux there to see it again.  The decor was just like I remembered, except smaller because I've grown, but the red leather booths are still there, as well as the little white xmas lights, and pizza! There are some really cool shops and restaurants on Magnolia Blvd. that I have yet to explore further.  There is a gluten free market, lots of little antique and vintage shops, small coffee houses....

Another great treat...Portos!  It was my first time checking out the one on Magnolia, though I've been to the Brand location many times.  When my mom use to work in Glendale, she'd come home with a box in hand filled with potato balls, stuffed with ground beef and those amazing meat pies..a savory and sweet experience. Jeaux wasn't feeling the lines, but believe me, it is SO worth the wait.

My friend, Robbie, was having a book signing at Dark Delicacies that day.  She is a dear friend and my former high school art teacher, and an all around beautiful person. Funny enough, I've never read any of her fiction, but I cherish the life stories she tells me whenever we have some quality time together. I always tell her that she should write a memoir because her stories are so full of character and so, so interesting.  We have shared funny tales of dating horrors, dealing with unrequited love, falling in love, travel, misfortunes, successes....life, and she has lived an adventurous life thus far.  It was great to see her at this signing, which was for the anthology,  Dark Passions XIII.  I'm going to have to read it one of these awesomely gloomy days, but probably only her chapter (because I love her).  I'll do this covered in blankets, while sipping on some warm almond milk.  My friend, Ema, turned me on to warm almond milk cooked with a bit of honey, cinnamon, and nutmeg, sprinkled with a bit of fresh ginger for a kick.  I'm hoping it gets chillier, otherwise it won't be as much fun. I'm tired of pretending that I live in a place with four seasons. It's time to accept that LA is so unpredictable, though the wannabe goth in me wishes for more rain.  Here's to good friends...a rarity, and when you find them, hold on to them!  


More images and stories about that day in Burbank very soon!   .Virtual hugs.




your friend,




ava

Our Hallow's Eve

thank you X

I hope everyone had an exciting Halloween weekend!  I had to work on the actual day since it was a Monday, but luckily I got to dress up. Sometimes I day dream about the ideal job and wonder if I will ever have one where I can use my art degree to it's full potential. However, I'm lucky to have a job period and really blessed that I can work in an environment that allows me to express myself creatively one day out of the year. My favorite day!  

A couple of posts ago, I expressed how much I love to dress up for Halloween.  It has always been my favorite time of year.  Coming up with costume ideas always takes valuable time and consideration.  Last year my costume was kind of thrown together in a flash and was a little disappointing.  This year, I promised myself that I would put in more effort and come up with something fabulous. Down below is my interpretation of Liza. Complete with freshly painted teal green nails!

I didn't get the hair quite right (she has that amazing Vulcan/widow's peak point), but I'm really happy about my curls. It's been fun playing around with my pixie cut now that it's grown in a little. I think I may start doing pin curls more often.

 

This was Friday night. We decided to head downtown for a massive, MASSIVE party thrown by a fellow artist, Jay Lopez. I met Jay at Synchronicity Space gallery where my friend, Gilda use to host potlucks. This was also his birthday party and somehow he knows a lot of people because there were probably well over 500, I'm estimating.  Jeaux went as a 1992 "Dead Head".  A family friend gave him that amazingly bad (he begs to differ) Grateful Dead tee and I must say, it was a show stopper. He was so proud to get many compliments, but nobody got his costume. Tons of people yelled out "Cheech!", although we both thought he looked more like Tommy Chong with the beard, bandanna and glasses. He just "rolled" with it. 

While trying to find parking, we spotted this crazy, awesome van.  I am always drawn to graffiti and I love how busy this photo is. I think that eye is looking at me.  Love at first sight. 

I also really love brick buildings.  This one houses loft spaces. Oh, to afford one of those would be magical. This shot was taken after deciding not to stand in line anymore. The party had reached full capacity and the hired help were starting to turn people away.  It was exciting to see all the costumes, so being turned away wasn't so bad. It had also been a long while since Jeaux and I have had an actual date. Money has been tight and we have been forced to spend many nights at home, which can turn really monotonous.  It felt good to be together and to bring a little spark and adventure back into our relationship.

Cheers to Halloween, nighttime photo adventures and love! 

your friend,

ava

LA

I love this city

Copyright Ava Alamshah, 2011. 

Tim Burton

Jeaux and I have a funny thing in common that I found out a year ago when we first started dating. Both he and I were what we call, "Half Ass Goth".  Basically, we were both into Goth culture: All black clothing,  dark ruby or black lipstick, black as midnight nail polish, The Cure, but we were too chicken to go all the way with our looks. I had the imitation Doc Martin mid-calf boots, long black sweaters, fish nets and rubber bracelets, though I worried about my parent's reaction if I even thought about wearing dark eye liner and black lipstick. I hung around some people who were in those circles, but after my freshman year, I thought about going more Granny Chic. 

Jeaux was way cooler it seems. He managed to draw a wonderful sketch of Edward Scissorhands directly onto a tee-shirt of his, never smiled in photographs and listened to much better music (while I was still growing up in the 90s and trying to get out of my awkward faze, he was already past that so I had some catching up to do I suppose).

With all that said, imagine how excited we both were to find out that Tim Burton was going to showcase his art at the LACMA!  We had tickets in advance to take a CalArts tour. We finally went this past Saturday, and it was, well, overwhelming.  We ended up losing the group, which was fine with me because we were stuck behind a middle-aged CalArts alum who kept telling us how "so & so" stole his ideas and how bitter he was. He also mentioned numerous times how he shouldn't have even said anything. 

"I've said too much already."

Yeah, it was a little awkward. Besides this guy, we had the pleasure of meeting a woman in her 70s or 80s who went to CalArts later in life. I found that inspiring (its never too late after all). She was funny and loved to talk about her installations of plungers and penises. I could respect that.

There were so many people, and heavy breathers, some of them. It was tough to catch every single piece, but I'm glad we got to see his old sketches. The ones that were very interesting were the random sketches he did while bored at his job at Disney. Another favorite were his models and original pieces from "The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy & Other Stories".

This was all good, but the most fun I had was when Jeaux and I got to mischievously touch the Angora Sweater from Ed Wood. That was our punk rock moment of the day and made me delightfully giggle. 

By the way, it IS super soft! Towards the end of the tour, it turned into the Hardrock Cafe, Universal Studios, in a way that was completely "Hollywood".

Copyright Ava Alamshah 2011

They wouldn't let us take pictures, so this is right outside the exit. They had these crazy balloon men dancing to Danny Elfman tunes. 

Later on in the evening I wanted to take Jeaux to Pizza Fusion on Sunset. I'm starting this gluten free diet and was excited to try their gluten free pizza, and pizza is Jeaux's favorite food. I have to be honest, the pizza was alright (this is coming from someone who has had the ultimate pizza from New York & Chicago). We got half pepperoni & cheese. Each slice only had a single pepperoni on it and overall the pizza was overpriced.  I'll have to come up with a good alternative or just create my own gluten free pizza one of these days. I'll keep you'll posted once I do. 

It wasn't all a loss though. I was, after all, in good company and we came up with this cute illustration while waiting. We took turns drawing each other. I'm happy with how it turned out. I can thank my boyfriend in encouraging me to draw again.

Copyright Ava Alamshah & Jeaux Janovsky 2011

your friend,

ava