Doing it Right: Porter Robinson’s Circle Assembly Tour

February 4, 2013August 14, 2013Leave a comment

Over the last few years, I’ve developed a major crush on Electronic Music – from Trance to Electro House, from Industrial Tech House to Dubstep, and from Drum & Bass to Trap, I basically love it all. And it’s no wonder, there are elements of electronic music oozing from every other genre. The “Dubstep” of 2013 sounds eerily similar to the hard rock sounds of Atreyu, Avenged Sevenfold, System of a Down and Korn and “Trap” music is nothing more than hard Rap and Hip Hop beats sans the obnoxious “Money, Hoes and Drugs” vocals.

Each of Saturday’s acts is respected within their own right, as well as their own cross-genre productions. If you made me drop a pin on the EDM map for Penguin Prison, Seven Lions or Porter Robinson I simply couldn’t do it; each act boasts a mature sound and is beyond versatile. To be honest, I’d either essentially forgotten or literally had no idea that PP was the opening act – it wasn’t until much later that I put 2 and 2 together to get 4; there were gorgeous vocals coming straight from the DJs mouth, which we were all highly astounded by, a Indie-electro sound and beats that made you just bop around the dance floor – he was the perfect opening act.

Next up was Santa Barbara native Seven Lions – the best way to describe his sound is Trance–step. By weaving beautiful, harmonious dissonance and booming basslines, he creates a unique sound that I’ve only heard from the likes of Blackmill, on the more relaxed “Chill-step” end of the spectrum, and Xilent, who sits on the harder hitting Dubstep and Drum & Bass side of things. Seven Lions played literally one of the best set’s I’ve heard in the last few years, let alone one of the best ‘Dubstep’ sets ever. He gets down with the crowd and his energy is contagious, the only other performer I could even compare him to with sound and style would be Bassnectar – and that’s an amazing compliment to both artists in my opinion.

Seven Lions @ The Hollywood Palladium

Last, but by no means least: there’s mister Porter Robinson himself. After the astounding set by Seven Lions I wasn’t expecting to get swept off my feet: boy was I wrong! He started off the set with his hit ‘Seconds’ and then continued, hit after hit, to wow, astound and hype the crowd. There was a perma-smile on my face the entire time he was spinning and my feet could not stop moving to his beats. The Circle Assembly Tour is a must for any self-professed EDM lover; if I could, I would go back in a heartbeat!

Porter Robinson at the Hollywood Palladium

Doing it Right: Slow Sundays at the Getty Villa

January 21, 2013August 14, 20132 Comments

Yesterday, a few friends and I went on quite the glorious adventure – the weather had just cleared up in Southern California and we were off to the J Paul Getty Museum out in Malibu!

From the second we arrived, we were in absolute awe – the grounds were majestically adorned in Greco-Roman architecture and sculptures; from the fountains and statues, down to the marble and stone each room was built with. The best thing about our day-venture to the Villa was that beyond the $15 for parking, all we had to do was make a reservation and the occasion was absolutely free; as all good art should be, in my opinion. We spent about three hours wandering through every room, letting our breath be taken away by the intrinsic beauty, intricate details and color schemes of ancient times.

As amazing as they are, please note that these pictures do not do the works of art or grounds of the Villa any justice – if you’re ever in the area, I highly suggest you check it out for yourself!

Zeus

Venus

Sarcophagus

Perfume Vials

Greco-Egyptian Jewelry

Oh, Snap: Stunning Sunsets Vol1

January 11, 2013August 9, 20131 Comment

Over the last decade, I’ve developed a knack for capturing events ‘in-the-moment’: confetti at concerts, priceless interactions between friends and the nuanced emotions of animals. You name it, I’ve probably at least attempted to capture it. The only difference between me then and me now is experience, age, wisdom and dedication; so, kind of a lot. You’d think that with so many moving pieces, shooting people and animals would be on the more difficult end of the spectrum – but that would be completely false. With animate objects, you can engage them into acting, or even reacting – either way, they engage the camera in a symbiotic relationship. When you’re trying to take a picture of a dandelion or mural – you can’t exactly ask it to shift into the light, or angle themselves in another direction. It’s all up to you to be creative, which is where I shine. I love taking something that exists and manipulating the image into something bigger: bolder, colorful, lively; and I feel like sunsets are the perfect subject to demonstrate this.

LA Skyline

Newport, CA

Dallas, TX

Hollywood, CA

San Diego, CA

Echo Park, CA

Downtown LA

Newport, CA

Sunset Spot

Malibu, CA

Coachella 2011

Oh, Snap: Street Art v2

January 4, 2013January 16, 2013Leave a comment

One of the best things about the street art in Los Angeles is the high turnover rate – as soon as something phenomenal is created, another piece of art is destroyed; either at the artists accord or because the city has had enough of it. Either way, the fact remains – the destruction of creativity breeds more creativity, it’s something that simply can’t be stopped or thwarted.

You can slow an artist down with writers block or take away his canvas and tools – but creativity is an ooze that bubbles and boils over, seeping into pores and out of airways. True artists eat, breathe and sleep their talents – and the artists of Los Angeles are no different; I hope you enjoy their street art as much as I have!

“Angels Will Ride”

Oh, Snap: Holiday Season in Oregon

December 27, 2012December 27, 20121 Comment

This past weekend I went up to Oregon to get my holiday on; it’s one of my favorite trips of the entire year because I now have such a solid social circle in Portland thanks to one of my best friends. I came up with a few days to spare and we hit the town – staying at The Nines, enjoying their lovely restaurant on the 8th Floor called the Urban Farmer and then went out and hit the town! The rest of my trip was spent with my family, my extended family of their best friends and lots of four legged furry creatures to keep me entertained. I had an amazing time, per usual, in Portland and Corvallis and am eagerly awaiting my next trip up north.

Starting the Apocalypse off right

The Nines

Christmastime in Portland

Buckets on buckets on buckets…

French Toast at the Urban Farmer

“Bet you can’t hit me with a quarter”
Challenge: Accepted.

My gorgeous Momma Bear

My gramps was amazing

Neighbors

What Winter *should* look like

Spa day! Merry Christmas to me =)

Pumpkin pie, it’s whats for breakfast.

Purple hair, don’t care; it was time for a change!

My dad’s best friend’s puppy, Stella; let’s play!!!

One of my favorite things to do in Oregon: hustle some pool!

Later, Oregon; til next time!!

[Oh, Snap!] The Holiday Spirit

December 12, 2012January 13, 2014Leave a comment

I don’t know if you can tell from my posts over the past month but I’m a sucker for bright lights and any excuse to gather my family and friends together with a ton of alcohol; okay, so maybe not a ton but you get the picture – the holidays are the perfect reason to don your seasons best and spread the joy with the people you covet and love. My mother was raised Methodist and my father had the first Bar Mitzvah in Corvallis, Oregon. But, being the fact-checking, science-loving, algorithm-solving people they are – I was more or less raised non-denominational which makes it slightly ironic that I love the holidays so much. In fact, I was raised on Native American and African folktalkes – but within the Venn diagram of religion and culture are beautiful morals and values you can pick and choose to take with you; and I’d like to think I took a lot of them.

For me, the holidays are a few things: firstly, they’re a time of travel – typically either to San Francisco or Portland, and with travel comes retrospection and introspection; secondly, they’re that time of the year where everyone smiles at strangers, holds the door for each other and just flat our exchanges pleasantries; and last but not least, they’re the perfect excuse to dress yourself, your house, your pets and your trees to the 9’s with festive flair and lavish lighting.

These are some of my favorite pictures I’ve been snapping around Los Angeles and Hollywood while I get into the holiday groove; hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Holiday nails and a holiday drink!

Decorations at the Disney Studio Lot

Hollywood & Highland getting into the Holiday Spirit

Lights at the Farmer’s Market

More decorations on the Disney Lot

The Disney Tree

Hanukkah Nails

The Grove in Black and White thanks to the new Willow Filter

Santa getting some air above The Grove

Doing it Right: Halloween, Disney Style!

October 31, 2012August 14, 20133 Comments

A few years ago, I was on the hunt for a career change – and I consider myself uberlucky because the career change actually found me. I was working as a Data Analyst for a great firm, but only at Part Time – Walt Disney Studios, at the time with a contracted position, asked me if I would like a spot on their Space Planning Team and I jumped at the chance to not only leave my current job but work with some of the best and brightest in the entertainment industry.

The holidays here are celebrated in style, but most of all – Halloween is the coveted centerpiece of all the grand holidays. And, if there’s one thing we here at Disney know how to do – it’s play dressup! When I walked into work initially, I was a tad disappointed by the lack of holiday spirit – but as the day waned on, I noticed more and more fabulous group, individual and little kid costumes. The happiest place on earth today was definitely our lot!