Eve's Apple

12 Days of Christmas Giving: Days 11 and 12: CivLAvia and Partners in Sex Education

2011-12-24T18:42:00.000-08:00

A 2-in-1 recommendation special today! Belated Day 11: CicLAvia Remember when everyone in LA gave up their cars for bikes, and the LA freeways became the largest bike path system in the world? No? Well, ok, maybe we're not there quite yet (although Carmageddon was a good start), but the good folks at CicLAvia are doing their best to get us there. Three times already they've shut down 10

12 Days of Christmas Giving: Day 10 Aliza's Brain Trust

2011-12-22T08:54:00.000-08:00

Back in July I blogged about my friend Aliza's stroke and need for funds to support her recovery. The good news is that she's on a slow and steady mend, though challenges remain like, oh, missing a third of her skull and needing to wear a helmet to protect her head. It was really inspiring to see her extended community and beyond rally to raise funds for an artist/activist - almost $43,000

12 Days of Christmas Giving: Day 9 Karen Schmeer Film Editing Fellowship

2011-12-21T19:39:00.000-08:00

I love to watch movie credits. I guess it's the same instinct that drives me to read acknowledgements in books - wanting to know all the people it takes to make one book or one movie. I don't usually watch credits on TV, however - the text is too small or moves by too fast to be legible. For some unknown reason, I was actually watching the credits to the HBO documentary Bobby Fisher Against

12 Days of Christmas Giving: Day 8 PARTICIPANT INC

2011-12-20T18:58:00.000-08:00

If I know anything at all about contemporary visual and time-based art, I have Lia Gangitano, founder of PARTICIPANT INC to thank. She's the type of curator who can make the most abstract or obscure work accessible and exciting, and she never makes me feel dumb or not cool or not in-the-scene enough. And that's a pretty tall order on Manhattan's Lower East Side. What makes PARTICIPANT INC

12 Days of Christmas Giving: Day 7 In Memory of Troy Davis

2011-12-19T09:31:00.000-08:00

If you were like me, you were glued to Democracy Now's live reporting leading up to the shameful execution of Troy Davis on September 21. That night I wrote on Facebook: Going to bed sickened and angry and ashamed of the US tonight. Trying to remember the incredible strength and determination showed by Troy's sister Martina Correia and her son, De'Jaun. Early the very same day, Shane Bauer

12 Days of Christmas Giving: Day 6: Outernational

2011-12-18T10:06:00.000-08:00

Simply put, Outernational are the Pied Pipers of the Revolution. I mean that in a good way. Like: they're not going to lead us to our deaths, but rather to a whole new world. And you're gonna shake your booty a whole lot on the way there. The first time I saw Outernational play (which I think was their second show ever) was as a kickoff to the march protesting the 2004 Republican National

12 Days of Christmas Giving: Belated Day 5: Show Box LA

2011-12-18T08:45:00.000-08:00

If you have seen, participated in, or produced local dance in Los Angeles then you know Show Box LA. Maybe you've been to the recently deceased Anatomy Riot ("don't be sad it's over, be glad it happened"), taken or taught a class through DANCEbank, submitted to and/or read itch Dance Journal, or attended Show Box's presenting debut of Miguel Gutierrez (pictured here), which by the way made the

12 Days of Christmas Giving: Day 4 Kristin Hersh/Strange Angels

2011-12-16T10:35:00.000-08:00

You know the saying "tis better to give than to receive"? Well with today's recommendation, you receive even as you give! Kristin Hersh has been a mainstay of the alternative music scene since the late 1980s with her band Throwing Muses, and later as a solo artist and with 50FootWave. Living in Boston, I got to see Kristin perform all the time. In fact, I've probably seen her live more than any

12 Days of Christmas Giving: Day 3 Political Research Associates

2011-12-15T12:30:00.000-08:00

I first got to know the work of Political Research Associates when I worked in the copy center downstairs from their office in the early 1990s. Their staff would bring in the most interesting documents to copy - including fascinating primary and secondary materials on right-wing movements, neo-conservatives, and Christian extremists. I started asking if I could make copies for myself, and

12 Days of Christmas Giving: Day 2 The World Can't Wait

2011-12-13T19:50:00.000-08:00

For many people, the Occupy Movement was exactly what they've been waiting for: an activist mobilization not focused on lobbying elected officials, that takes a stand against - and for - myriad issues that impact our daily lives. I like to think that The World Can't Wait has been part of laying the groundwork for something like Occupy to happen. They've been relentlessly standing up and

12 Days of Christmas Giving: Day 1 The National Network of Abortion Funds

2011-12-13T11:23:00.000-08:00

OK, I'm not much into Christmas, but I am into supporting organizations and artists I believe in. But being newly unemployed, I don't have a lot of money. So my holiday giving this year will come in the form of promoting causes I wish I could be funding with generous contributions. By featuring a different group or individual each day, I'm spreading the word about their fabulous work, and am

So Beautiful or So What? My Favorite Music of 2011

2011-12-13T10:16:00.000-08:00

Layered harmonies, rich yet experimental orchestration, and sounds that range from sparkling and jangly to deep gothy vibrations are the qualities that characterize my favorite music this year. Bonus: over half of my selections feature female vocalists. If I could only pick one album from the whole year, no question it would be Wilco's brilliant The Whole Love. OK, I may be biased because I'm a

Occupy Los Angeles, Occupy Everything

2011-12-03T15:21:00.001-08:00

They think they've locked the people out, but instead they've locked themselves in. In doing so they've declared their position; government sides with the 1%.

A picture's worth a thousand words

2011-11-11T11:39:00.000-08:00

That's my homeboy Mathew Sandoval laying it on the line for us at the intersection of Westwood and Wilshire November 9, 2011.

Superheroes are the 99%, too!

2011-10-28T08:57:00.000-07:00

Even Spiderman occasionally tires of taking on the system alone while working a low-paying job and taking care of his family.

First off: fight.

2011-10-02T15:52:00.000-07:00

An excerpt from my friend Prumsodun Ok's TED Fellows blog: ‎"First off: fight. Fight ignorance and darkness, fight injustice and deceit, fight inaction and fear, fight the left, fight the right, fight the center. Fight for love, fight for truth, fight for beauty, fight for health. Knowledge and wisdom is your sword. Use this powerful weapon of yours. Take care of it. Hone it. It is your

In which I rate movies recently watched on flights across the Pacific

2011-08-16T10:33:00.000-07:00

Regular readers of this blog already know that I have different standards for movies seen on planes versus those seen in the movie theater or at home via DVD or streaming. The goal is to find that perfect mindless entertainment mean. I don't want to cry on planes, nor do I want my intelligence to be (totally) insulted. I just want something that will keep me pleasantly occupied. Following is a

BODY-IN-THE-WORLD: Tokyo Edition

2011-08-14T09:37:00.000-07:00

In response to a request for a photo from KitsuneButoh, I decided to spend part of my last weekend in Japan engaging with her BODY-IN-THE-WORLD/Project 3-6-5. Lots more to say about bodies in Tokyo, but for now I'll just share the photos. In Tokyo, everyone is constantly negotiating arrows, signs, and paths that tell you where and how to go with organic, improvisatory moves. Ueno Park

Blog from the vault: Carmageddon: Better Than Battle LA

2011-08-12T16:41:00.000-07:00

On the weekend of July 15-17, the 405 freeway was closed between the 10 and the 101. Locals dubbed it "Carmageddon." It made national news. It was awesome. People were forced to interrupt their routines, which in the Los Angeles sprawl means driving. A lot. But for one weekend, the streets were empty. People explored their own neighborhoods. Used alternate transportation. Were witty and creative.

Osaka-Tokyo-Yokohama-Tokyo: What a Long, Strange Day it's Been

2011-08-12T16:19:00.000-07:00

The day began with an inspiring talk by Rustom Bharucha in which he, citing Artaud ("We are not free. And the sky can still fall on our heads. And the theater has been created to teach us that first of all."), took a stand against the perpetuation of normalcy and called for the embracing of crisis as a productive catalyst. On the train back to Tokyo, saw bushes trimmed to look like cranes in a

Osaka

2011-08-11T06:44:00.000-07:00

If Kyoto is a wonderland of temples, Osaka exemplifies the urban. Why bother with Osaka Castle when you can troll through the boulevards and alleys around the ultra-modern Osaka and Umeda train stations, and shoot up 140 meters straight up in the Sky Umeda building?

QUIZ: Who Said That? Osaka Edition

2011-08-11T05:50:00.000-07:00

A. Trainees at an Osaka okonomiyake restaurant B. Porpoises at the Osaka Aquarium C. Staff at my Osaka hostel D. The Android in a play at Osaka University First person to post the right answer gets a souvenir from Osaka!

Mysterious bathroom appliance

2011-08-07T07:07:00.000-07:00

I'm stumped. My best guess is that I'm supposed to put my shopping bags on it.

Hanabi

2011-08-06T07:31:00.000-07:00

The Japanese love their fireworks (the kanji for hanabi - 花火 - are flower and fire). There was a big fireworks show tonight on the Yodogawa River in Osaka. They were pretty spectacular and people oohed and aahed their appreciation, even clapping and exclaiming "sugoi, ne!" ("so cool!") at the most amazing ones. In addition to multicolor, sparkling, and cascading shapes, there were planets,

Miscellanous Japan

2011-08-06T07:29:00.000-07:00

Hamarikyu Garden, a Tokugawa era park on Tokyo Bay Tokyo Bay Tokyo Tower as seen from Roppongi Hills Obon Festival at Tsujiki Temple: Let's all do the Bon Odori!You can dress up in your best traditional clothing... or you can dress up as your favorite character Playing with my new Lomo app at the Yokohama Triennial is fun!

Krzyszof Wodiczko: Survival Projection 2011

2011-08-06T06:42:00.000-07:00

Last night I attended the world premiere of Krzyszof Wodiczko's Survival Projection 2011 in Yokohama. The project combines his earlier War Veteran Vehicles with testimony from survivors of the Tohoku tsunami on March 11. The words and voices of American, US, and Polish veterans and their loved ones are projected from a military jeep onto the side of a building on the Shinko Pier. When paired

Because you don't want to get the clothes dirty when you try them on

2011-08-05T08:45:00.000-07:00

Musings on Muse

2011-08-04T22:55:00.000-07:00

When I saw Muse's "Uprising" on the Grammys earlier this year, I saw a slick portrayal of revolution in the streets performed by professional dancers and a British band in sequins, backed by an expensive and flashy video/light show. In that context, I found the waving of black flags to be quite cynical. (And ok, news of Matt Bellamy fathering Kate Hudson's baby might have also biased my opinion.)

All is Not Lost

2011-08-04T18:20:00.000-07:00

Evidently turquoise unitards can solve anything. That, and love. At least that's what the new OK Go video with the dance company Pilobolus suggests. Seems like there's something to be written here about bodies dissolving into text. In the meantime, it's fun to watch.

On Arriving in Japan and the US Debt Crisis

2011-08-02T20:03:00.000-07:00

As I cruised over the Pacific enjoying movie after mind-numbing movie, Congress passed a measure to raise the debt ceiling that by all accounts (or at least by Democracy Now and Paul Krugman) sucks. Not only will the deal likely prolong the current recession - primarily hurting the working class and middle class, and positively screwing the already unemployed - it essentially allows the wealthy

Can you help an artist with no health insurance?

2011-07-31T19:11:00.000-07:00

I've never used my blog for a personal appeal before, but this one is important. My friend and comrade, Aliza Shapiro (aka Heywood Wakefield), just had a stroke. She's 41. She an artist, activist, and producer in Boston. Many people know her as the tireless promoter behind Truth Serum Productions. Let's just say there'd be no Drag King or queer cabaret scene in the northeast without her.

Jimmy Cliff: Afghanistan

2011-06-30T11:03:00.000-07:00

The World Can't Wait alerted me to this fantastic video of Jimmy Cliff at the Glastonbury festival this summer updating his classic anti-war song, Vietnam. With the faux pull out just recently announced, this song is a good reminder that our part in the war in Afghanistan (Iraq, Libya...) is far from over.

No revolution is executed like a ballet

2011-06-28T07:59:00.000-07:00

"No revolution is executed like a ballet. Its steps and gestures are not neatly designed and precisely performed...A social movement that only moves people is merely a revolt. A movement that changes both people and institutions is a revolution." - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Artists in Times of War

2011-06-11T21:07:00.000-07:00

UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture Commencement SpeechJune 11, 2011 I’d like to begin by congratulating all my fellow graduates on your impressive accomplishments. I especially want to recognize my WACtivist[i] comrades, without whom I could not be standing here today. On a personal note, both of my parents were the first in their families to

Belated Coachella Highlights

2011-04-27T23:51:00.000-07:00

The sun sets over the Coachella Valley I went to Coachella a few weekends ago. Here is my belated report from the weekend, with categories inspired by the festival report backs on the All Songs Considered podcast. Biggest Trend: The Power of Two The Black Keys. The Kills. Death From Above 1979. Lightning Bolt. Over and over again, these bands hammered home the fact that two can make more

RIP Poly Styrene

2011-04-26T17:56:00.000-07:00

...at age 53 of cancer. I just downloaded a new song of hers yesterday. Girl rockers and riot grrrls everywhere are forever in her debt and awe.

Movie Music Madness

2011-04-11T12:17:00.000-07:00

Sometimes music - and I'm talking rock music here - is so well integrated into a movie that you can't imagine a scene without it. Think Martin Scorsese at his best. Sometimes a movie is built around a soundtrack (Purple Rain), but you don't mind because the soundtrack is soooo good. When you're lucky, a movie can open a whole new world of music for you (Pretty in Pink), or perhaps better yet,

Journalists as the Subjects of Journalism

2011-04-01T09:31:00.000-07:00

Photo by Lynsey Addario: Burial in Falluja, 2004 I've noticed recently a journalistic focus on the stories of journalists covering protests and revolutions in the Middle East who have been assaulted. Hearing photojournalist Lynsey Addario talk on NPR this morning about her own experience being held in Libya made me question the motivations of such stories: is it only natural for journalists to

Half-ass Movie Preview: The Source Code

2011-03-30T16:06:00.000-07:00

I adored the 2009 movie, Moon, by David Bowie's progeny, Duncan Jones (aka Zowie Bowie). It was a smart, well-written sci- fi movie with an excellent cast, and a design sense that favored old-school models to tech-crazy CGI. I just don't understand how the same director could have made The Source Code. The trailer, at least, makes this look like a run-of-the-mill thriller with your regulation

RIP Leonard Weinglass

2011-03-24T11:01:00.000-07:00

Lawyer Leonard Weinglass notably defended the Chicago 8, Mumia Abu Jamal, and Daniel Ellsberg. He will be missed. We need many more like him.

Bow Down to Your New Lizard Masters

2011-03-19T12:32:00.000-07:00

Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you Zorch.

Imported From Detroit

2011-03-14T23:31:00.000-07:00

As a Michigander with family roots in the auto industry - my grandfather was rank-and-file UAW who knew Walter Reuther and one of my uncles was a long-time Chrysler worker - I'm captivated by the new Chrysler "Imported from Detroit" ad campaign, which premiered during the Super Bowl. I get sucked in every time I see the ad, even though I know I shouldn't. It strikes a perfect note of

Damn These Vampires

2011-03-11T09:43:00.000-08:00

No, I'm not referring to the recent spate of vampire-themed movies, books, and tv shows. (Readers of this blog will know that I am in fact obsessed with said trend.) I'm referring instead to the excellent new single, on the soon-to-be-released album All Eternals Deck by The Mountain Goats. You can get a free download of "Damn These Vampires" here. I love way the lyrics and music combine to

RIP Mike Starr

2011-03-08T18:41:00.000-08:00

Alice in Chains bassist and, more recently, Celebrity Rehab participant. Another needless addiction death.

I've just got to let you know

2011-03-04T16:35:00.000-08:00

...about the funniest flyer ever! Ah, how I used to love me some Lionel Richie!

Half-ass Movie Review: Black Swan

2011-02-21T17:33:00.000-08:00

When done well, movies can grapple with complex issues such as sexual harassment, body dysmorphia, and eating disorders. They can blur the line between fantasy and reality, challenging our understanding of what is real. Movies can tell personal stories of jealousy and fear and parents who won't let their children grow up. They can give us a fresh perspective on the arts, as well as be works of

Butoh Club Dancing Lessons from Thom Yorke

2011-02-19T11:24:00.000-08:00

Backed by the stylish sounds of the Radiohead outfit.

The Rise and Rise and RISE of the New Pornographers

2011-02-19T10:30:00.000-08:00

music video cum movie trailer, brought to you by the comic genius of Tom Sharpling

South Dakota Moves To Legalize Killing Abortion Providers

2011-02-16T23:01:00.000-08:00

A Mother Jones article first posted February 15 and updated February 16 reports on the shocking but not surprising move to redefine South Dakota's "justifiable homicide" law to include actions taken to prevent harm to a fetus. It's no stretch to see that this is an attempt to legalize attacks on abortion providers, and to use fear and intimidation to force abortion providers to abandon their work

Early Musical Favorites of the New Year

2011-01-26T14:45:00.000-08:00

The theme for this month has been comfort in the familiar. Iron & Wine's "Tree By the River" from the new album, Kiss Each Other Clean is just the right dose of sweet nostalgia. "Calamity Song" by The Decemberists on The King is Dead makes me forget about the last few concept albums, and warmly welcome back the band I used to love. Bonus: REM nostalgia with Peter Buck on the album version!

Showtime Goes Meta

2011-01-13T22:38:00.000-08:00

How interesting that Showtime has a new show (Episodes) about how American television rips off a British show, which airs after another new show, Shameless, which itself is - ahem - an adaptation of a British show by the same name. Incidentally, I haven't decided yet if I like the show or not. Right now it's uncomfortably close to a voyeuristic view of the colorful lives of the working class

Favorite Music of 2010

2010-12-26T22:51:00.000-08:00

It's so exciting to make a year-end list full of new artists and new projects by established artists. I'm not saying these are the best albums of the year, just the ones I liked the best. Jonsi Go Clem Snide Meat of Life Sleigh Bells Treats I wrote about these three albums earlier in the year, and every single one of them held up. The Jonsi album offers more up for discovery each time I listen;

RIP Captain Beefheart

2010-12-19T11:58:00.001-08:00

Blog from the Vault: Where do you stand?

2010-12-19T11:24:00.000-08:00

Drafted but never posted in 2006: Within the framework of an epic, action-packed story, X-Men: The Last Stand raises issues with strong contemporary relevance: Is conformity an antidote to prejudice? Is it cowardice to give up individuality to fit in and avoid persecution? Do ends justify means? Is great power a blessing or a curse? Can you work from the inside to make change, or is an

Desert Island Records

2010-12-19T11:12:00.000-08:00

Here are my responses to a recent NPR Music blog, Your Island Five: The Albums You Can't Live Without. 1. Joni Mitchell Ladies of the Canyon: for comfort 2. Soundgarden Badmotorfinger: for the angry times 3. Prince and the Revolution Purple Rain: to create an instant party 4. U2 The Unforgettable Fire: to be transported by the sound of hope 5. Wilco: Summer Teeth: for the range of

Pop Culture Firsts

2010-12-19T10:53:00.000-08:00

Inspired by a Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast First favorite movie: Star WarsIt was also the first movie I was allowed to see in the movie theater, so, yeah, holds a big place in my heart. First album I bought with my own money: Journey Escape I still unapologetically love Journey as readers of my blog may remember. First adult book I read: Centennial by James Michener Probably because I loved

Random Recommendation: The Wind That Shakes the Barley

2010-12-19T10:24:00.000-08:00

I watched Ken Loach's 2006 film, The Wind That Shakes the Barley, the other night, and found it to be a particularly potent rumination on the perils of stopping short of your ideals, especially in a pragmatic move justified as "we'll take this now and continue fighting for the rest later" (sound familiar?). In coupling the Irish War of Independence and the Irish Civil War, Loach shows how a

Live for the People

2010-12-06T07:10:00.000-08:00

And you have Fred out there rallying them, and he'd say, "All right, all right, all right, power to the people." Everybody'd say, "Power to the people." He'd say, "Now, I'm not going to die on no airplane." They'd say, "No." "I'm not going to die slipping on no ice." They'd say, "No." He'd say, "I'm going to die for the people because I'm going to live for the people." They

California Master Plan for Education

2010-11-15T22:38:00.002-08:00

The Regents of the University of California are meeting this week to vote on an 8% increase in student fees, on top of a 33% increase just one year ago. While it's certainly important to resist this particular move, it's absolutely crucial that we understand how this fits into a pattern of divesting from public education. Below are excerpt from two different Master Plans

From Minneapolis to Seattle

2010-11-15T22:09:00.000-08:00

Last week academic research took me to Minneapolis, and this week I'm going to Seattle for a conference. So I thought I'd take you on a musical journey to those two fine cities. I'm not going to go for the obvious, however. Yes, I love Prince. Never really got into Husker Du or The Replacements. But I'm a huge grunge and Riot Grrrl fan, and both cities fed my musical needs in the early 90s.

Happy Happy, Joy Joy

2010-11-02T21:42:00.000-07:00

OMG! Carrie Brownstein has a new band: Wild Flag!

Everything Old is New Again

2010-11-02T21:26:00.000-07:00

And for the end of your election day: a 1979 performance about the then youngest California Governor ever, now the newest - and oldest - California Governor ever.

Speak up!...To the Beat!

2010-11-02T07:24:00.000-07:00

Fuel for your election day ponderings, the mighty Sleater-Kinney: When violence rules the world outsideAnd the headlines make me want to cry It's not the time to just keep quiet Speak up one time TO THE BEAT

Nothing's Shocking

2010-11-01T18:08:00.000-07:00

After Dia de los Muertos at Hollywood Forever on Saturday, we made our way over to Swingers with other DotD and Halloween revelers for a late-night snack. As we were getting ready to leave, we spotted Dave Navarro waiting - yes, waiting - for a table. He didn't seem to mind the wait, as it gave him more canoodling time with his garter-belt wearing lady sailor friend.

California Election Tally, as of November 1, 2010

2010-11-01T17:55:00.001-07:00

I don’t know what mailing list I got on this year, but I received an unprecedented amount of unsolicited campaign materials. Some of it makes sense based on my union membership (UAW local 285), or donor history to certain non-profits. For much of it, including the amazingly persistent Meg Whitman mailings, I can only surmise that I am being targeted because of where I live, in a democratic

RIP Billy Ruane

2010-10-27T22:52:00.000-07:00

Too many sad losses this year. Sigh. Billy Ruane was a fixture of the Boston local music scene: always promoting, supporting, dancing, drinking, laughing. He was seemingly friends with everyone, ubiquitous in his black trench coat. Read the Boston Herald's account here.

RIP Ari Up

2010-10-24T15:57:00.006-07:00

An original and an icon. Update: Click here for Carrie Brownstein's blog post on the loss of Ari Up

"Flash, Flash, I love you, but we only have fourteen hours to save the Earth!"

2010-09-12T10:18:00.000-07:00

And I only have approximately 14 hours to save Japan from the coming Hipster Invasion! Oh yes, they are coming, and they are bringing their beards, and their strollers, and their babies with impossibly hip haircuts! Check out how the Hipsters are softening the Japanese up with this pre-invasion propaganda poster suggesting ways that the Japanese people can make room for Hipster parents and their

Tokyo Giants 11 - Hiroshima Carp 6

2010-09-11T09:23:00.002-07:00

I'm not a huge sports fan, but I'd heard that going to a baseball (yakyuu) game in Japan is quite an experience, so I asked a new Japanese friend I met at the Guest House Pongyi in Kanazawa if he'd take me to a game. Based on both our schedules, he settled on a Tokyo Giants-Hiroshima Carp game at Tokyo Dome. (He's from Yokohama, so the BayStars are his team, but they weren't playing a day we

Kitteh Temple

2010-09-11T08:02:00.001-07:00

The origin of the beckoning cat According to a brochure I picked up, the Jisho-in Temple in Tokyo is "said to be the origin of the beckoning cat from the episode that Dokan Ota lost his way in the midst of the battle but made a narrow escape from death beckoned by the black cat." Buddha of kittehs is sleepy. Someone even left an offering of cat food.

Recent Memorable Moments

2010-09-06T07:55:00.000-07:00

Sorry to neglect you, dear readers. I've been either too busy or too hot to write. So here are some recent highlights: Robot soccer in Akihabara Hyottoko odori (masked dance) at a shrine festival in Nakano Yoshito Ohno dancing with a puppet of his father, the late Kazuo Ohno. The open closets contain Kazuo's costumes. Hanging with a motley crew of crazy gaijin after a butoh show.

Half-ass book review: AHWOSG

2010-08-29T20:45:00.001-07:00

When Dave Eggers' A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius came out, I didn't pay much attention. The title may have caused me to lump the book in with others like David Sedaris' Me Talk Pretty One Day, which, no offense to Sedaris, is not the type of book I'd pick up on my own. Don't get me wrong, when people have handed his books to me and said, read this particular chapter, I have done so and

Donuts for Dinner!

2010-08-27T07:15:00.001-07:00

I've been doing a week-long workshop with Eiko, of Eiko & Koma, at Nihon University College of Art. I've met a lot of great people, and we've shared many a beer and much food after our workshops this week. Today, with some time to kill before a performance that we were going to see, we decided that the place to eat would be Mister Donut! Yoko (l) and her daughter, Shiori (r), who served as my

Eating in Osaka

2010-08-23T17:59:00.002-07:00

Osaka is famous for food. Overwhelmed by the choices and masses of people on Dotombori - think Canal Street meets Times Square - I finally settled on an okonomiyaki restaurant that seemed popular. (Osaka is famous for its okonomiyaki, which is different that Hiroshima's equally famous version.) Here's a translated approximation of my conversation with the waiter: Me: So...I'm vegetarian. The guy

Cheeztastic Breakfast Morsel

2010-08-23T16:14:00.000-07:00

Yes, dear readers (all 4 or so of you), I will return to my reports from Japan soon. In the meantime, however, I offer you this classic song, which astounds on many levels.

Anti-idling billboards in Koya-san

2010-08-19T06:18:00.000-07:00

Travel Lessons, New and Old

2010-08-18T07:07:00.001-07:00

Though my time in Japan is only about half-way over, my two weeks on the road here are coming to an end when I return to Tokyo tomorrow (updates on Koya-san and Osaka coming soon). Here, in no particular order, are the travel lessons recently learned and/or reinforced. 1) Being a tourist on your own can be lonely. I have no problem traveling for research or meetings or conferences. I'm pretty

Kanazawa: 21st Century Samurai

2010-08-16T07:30:00.000-07:00

I came to Kanazawa on the advice of friends, but ended up being entirely taken with the city for unexpected reasons. First of all, the fantastic 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art - gotta love their bold name - was a fun breath of fresh air having just emerged from the 8th-18th centuries in Kyoto. Jan Fabre's "The Man Who Measures the Clouds" atop the museum "Leandro's Pool" Second,

A sign-obsessed temple administrator at Heian-Jingu

2010-08-15T07:52:00.001-07:00

one reminded me of a Todd Rundgren song... Sometimes the signs were whimsical... some were existential... some perhaps overstated... and this one was downright hysterical.

Kyoto Mon Amour, part deux

2010-08-15T07:44:00.002-07:00

I reiterate my statement from a few days ago: Kyoto is exquisite, and everyone must come here. May I observe, however, that while there are times that sweat running down your legs may be a good thing, it is not in fact a good thing when you are jammed into a city bus full of Japanese tourists on one of the biggest travel weekends of the year in Japan. May I recommend April for the cherry

Kyoto Mon Amour

2010-08-13T05:42:00.000-07:00

Tenryu-ji garden Too tired to write anything substantial. Just this: Kyoto is really beautiful. You should be here with me. They love their deer in Nara. OK, this is in Nara, not Kyoto. But it's still beautiful.

Food, Glorious Food

2010-08-11T07:15:00.000-07:00

Really, there's nothing like clean clothes and an excellent meal to turn your whole day around. I arrived in Kyoto this afternoon determined to have a good meal, after too many days of eating onigiri from convenience stores. I combed through the LP restaurant suggestions for vegetarian restaurants, and settled on one called Biotei, an organic veg and vegan-friendly place. I arrived to find a

Nagasaki: International City

2010-08-11T00:24:00.001-07:00

As I leave Nagasaki on the morning of August 11, the rain that began yesterday afternoon and fell all night has cooled the city down, making this the most comfortable temperature I have felt in my more than two weeks in Japan. The dry warm days and cool nights of Los Angeles seem like just a dream at this point. This pleasant air provides a good atmosphere for reflection on my second day in

Nagasaki, August 9, 2010

2010-08-11T00:21:00.001-07:00

“From a blackened body came a faint voice; ‘water, water, water…’” I arrived in Nagasaki on the afternoon of the 65th anniversary of the atomic bombing of that city. From the number of tourists waiting for the unreserved cars on the train, I thought there would be a crowd of visitors here, like in Hiroshima, if not the same international attention. But when I made my way to Hypocenter Park in the

Miyajima

2010-08-07T05:53:00.000-07:00

Sunscreen: check. Umbrella for use in the sun: check Free fan advertising an arts festival in Hiroshima: check Big-ass bottle of Pocari Sweat: check Japanese cloth for mopping up sweat: check With all these tools to help me deal with the sun, heat, and humidity (slightly reduced today), I set off from Hiroshima for the island of Miyajima, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and site of one of the most

Research: Not Just a Job, an Adventure!

2010-08-06T08:18:00.001-07:00

Goda-san, the legendary dance critic, and Mikami-san of Torifune Butoh Sha Wednesday morning (8/4) I received an email from a butoh dancer I'd met a few days before. The email contained instructions to meet her at a particular Japan Rail line at Shinjuku at 3pm. I wasn't entirely clear what we would be going to see, but I was game, so I said sure, meet you there. I felt a little bit like I was

Hiroshima, August 6, 2010

2010-08-06T07:42:00.000-07:00

Today I left Tokyo for 2 weeks of research and traveling. First stop: Hiroshima for the 65th anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bomb. I met up with friends Michael and Waew Dao, and we visited Hiroshima Peace Park and its various museums and memorials. I arrived too late for the big speeches and protests that mark the hour of the detonation, 8:15am, but there was still plenty to see and

Tourist-teki

2010-08-04T20:43:00.001-07:00

A friend of mine in the US asked me to try and get her a certain Japanese CD not available online, so I thought it would be a good excuse to visit Shibuya and go record shopping. I emerged out of the labyrinth of the Shibuya metro/JR station into one of the most famous street crossings in the world. So I made my way into the Shibuya Starbucks (my Japanese teacher says it's the busiest in the

#1 ongoing Japan confusion

2010-08-04T09:12:00.000-07:00

Pushing down on the faucet handle turns the water on, lifting it turns it off, exact opposite of what I'm used to. 9 times out of 10 I still splash water everywhere when trying to turn off the tap.

Pilgrimage

2010-08-03T21:55:00.000-07:00

All day yesterday I was feeling a bit off. Maybe it was being woken up by that earthquake off the coast. Or the unrelenting humid heat. Whatever it was, I felt unsettled. As I made my way to Yokohama to the Kazuo Ohno Dance Studio via a subway, a commuter rail train, a fancy mall in the middle of a commuter rail station, another subway, and a winding walk in the dark, it occurred to me that

Melt-banana

2010-08-02T17:55:00.000-07:00

This is my favorite Japanese band so far.

A Day in the Life

2010-08-02T06:41:00.000-07:00

While in Tokyo, I'm renting a room in the Nakano Ward, near the Nakano-Sakaue Metro station. My room on the third floor in the back affords me a view of the Shinjuku skyscrapers, and a nice breeze in the evenings. Off the main roads, the residential streets narrow to one-car lanes. Pedestrians and bicyclists populate the alleys, with an occasional motorcycle or car passing by. I generally spend

Risaikuringu

2010-08-02T06:32:00.001-07:00

Detailed instructions on how to sort recycling and what day to put it out The Japanese may just have surpassed the Germans in terms of their recycling endeavors. The labels are perforated for easy removal and recycling. Even fast food restaurants like Mos Burger have carefully delineated slots for different types of recycling and garbage. There's even a slot to dump ice in.

Grocery Shopping at the Suu-paa

2010-08-01T05:37:00.000-07:00

The grocery store near where I'm staying seems to pretty consistently play a muzak version of Twisted Sister's "We're Not Gonna Take It." Makes shopping giggle-worthy. Today I chose things to buy based on their use of funny or bizarre English names. Like the jello dessert I bought it called "Jelly Ace." Crunky, pictured below, gave me visions of Lil Jon doing commercials for it. Imagine a crunch

It's all falling into Pratze

2010-07-31T23:33:00.001-07:00

So yesterday I went to the "Dance ga mitai" ("I want to see dance/try dance") festival at popular Tokyo performance site Die Pratze (a Japanese pronunciation of the German "die Platz," meaning place, square, etc.) Die Pratze is like Highways or Electric Lodge in LA, or Links Hall in Chicago: an intimate black box space for non-mainstream dance and performance. Dance ga mitai is a festival of new

Let the research begin!

2010-07-30T21:14:00.000-07:00

I spent the last two days at the Hijikata Archives (土方アーカイヴ), run by the very helpful Morishita-san, who began archiving items when Hijikata Tatsumi, the man credited with founding butoh, died in 1986. My dissertation is about Eiko & Koma, who began their dance training with Hijikata in the early 1970s, before going to train with Ohno Kazuo. Some people see Ohno as a co-founder of butoh, others

Sunrise from my window

2010-07-29T18:36:00.001-07:00

4:30 am. That's the Tochō on the right side of the photo.

雨が降って

2010-07-28T17:09:00.000-07:00

It's a three umbrella day in Tokyo (東京). At least it's a little cooler.

Tokyo: The View from Here

2010-07-28T05:33:00.000-07:00

First full day in Tokyo. Once I managed to pull myself together in the heat and humidity, I made my way a few Metro stops east from where I'm staying to Shinjuku to run some errands. I stopped by the Tokyo Municipal Government Building to visit the Observation decks of both the north and south towers. LA has nothing on Tokyo when it comes to sprawl (looking east from the south tower): Fuji-san

Half-ass movie review: airplane edition

2010-07-27T05:38:00.000-07:00

There are movies you pay to see in the movie theater, movies you pay to rent, and then there are movies you watch on airplanes. I have some rules about movies on planes.1) The movie must not make me cry.*2) Pretty much anything else goes. Flying internationally, especially on nice airlines, means that you will be greeted with a smorgasbord of films to choose from. Gone are the days of being