Wonderful Restaurants: The Stand
The Stand serves classic casual favorites (dogs/burgers/sandwiches) gone wonderful in a classy counter atmosphere with moderate contemporary prices. This is the home of my favorite-in-category Southwest Chicken Sandwich. I’m also partial to ordering custom-built hot dogs with bleu cheese and bacon. The charming outdoor seating on the edge of Ventura Boulevard doesn’t feel like it’s on the edge of Ventura Boulevard. Great for kids (without being gimmicky) and great for grown ups (free pickles!).
Wonderful Restaurants: Summer Canteen
If you’re in the Toluca Lake / Studio City area of Los Angeles, you must try the awkwardly named Leaf-Wrapped Savory Nibbles at Summer Canteen. The more straightforwardly titled Summer Fried Rice is also fabulous. The restaurant is simply but wonderfully decorated with Thai posters and reclaimed wood. Nighttime visitors (both male and female) should check out the ambience of the men’s restroom which features a frosted floor-to-ceiling window that faces a heavily travelled street.
Alternative Art Books: Death Scenes
Death Scenes was one of the most fascinatingly disturbing books I had ever seen when I discovered it at a newsstand years ago, long before I became a publisher. I have seen so many books in the years since, but this one remains as shocking now as it was then. Some may not consider it an “art book” in the usual sense, but definitely an “alternative scrapbook”.
Wonderful Restaurants: John O’Groats
People who know John O’Groats know how great the breakfast is (the bacon and the biscuits are legendary), but the greatness is actually oh-so-much greater than breakfast alone. Everything served here is literally made with quality you can taste. The fried shrimp in the Shrimp & Chips entree is almost certainly the best tasting and best prepared shrimp you will ever eat. The proprietor, Paul, is one of the most friendly and attentive restaurateurs in Los Angeles. John O’Groats is a place to celebrate the joys of high-quality, perfectly prepared comfort food. The Encino location boasts a pretty outdoor patio, a traditional dining room, a diner-inspired counter, an intimate sports bar, and a room for private parties. The menu and the space offer something for everyone.
Stay tuned to Radio Baby Tattoo for more Wonderful Restaurants.
Wonderful Restaurants: Skaf’s Grill
The atmosphere here is… there is no atmosphere, but the service is friendly and the food is fantastic. Extraordinary hummus. Chicken shawarma and chicken kababs that rival each other for flavor fabulousness. Falafel that is super crisp on the outside and smooth but not mushy on the inside. Order a number 8 combo to taste test three different meats. Beware: the parking lot is as treacherous as the food is delicious.
Christmas Pop-Up Store
Join us for some holiday shopping in the NoHo Arts District. Baby Tattoo is offering art books and related merchandise (many items are autographed) for 50% off the regular retail prices at Christmas Pop-Up Store.
11135 Weddington St., Suite #126, North Hollywood, CA 91601
Hours:
Friday December 16th: 6-10pm
Saturday December 17th: 2-5pm
Sunday December 18th: CLOSED
December 19th – 24th: 2-5pm
Wonderful Restaurants: Chris & Pitt’s
The “theme” at Chris & Pitt’s isn’t a put-on, it’s a decade’s-old reality. The Bellflower location looks like the “Smokin’ Log Cabin” firework from my youth. If you’re on a budget, it’s hard to beat the $7.95 mix and match lunch special (hours differ by location). I order the sirloin steak with chili and salad (it comes with garlic bread too). If you want to splurge, there’s a 3″ thick baseball top sirloin for $18.75. Drop in for some authentic, inexpensive, old-school meatiness; and tell them you heard about the joint on Radio Baby Tattoo.
Wonderful – Henry’s Hat
I enjoy restaurants that make eating an artistic, immersive, or theatrical experience. I also just like the art of good food. In an ongoing attempt to shine a spotlight on all manner of wonderful restaurants, I’ll be sharing my dining-out discoveries here on Radio Baby Tattoo; hopefully this will inspire some of the Baby Tattoo community to get out and do things (like eat) together.
Henry’s Hat is a comfy, casual joint offering food (and booze), fun and board games in Los Angeles. Don’t let the too-bright web site discourage you. This place is clubby cool in a way that works for grownups and kids alike. Be sure to explore some of their money-saving opportunities like the Tuesday night password and the mystery envelopes given as rewards for paying with cash.
- Bob Self
Stay tuned for coverage of more wonderful restaurants.
Alternative Art Books: Anima Mundi
For many collectors, Anima Mundi by Mark Ryden is the brass ring of contemporary alternative art books. Published by Last Gasp in 2001, the book sold out quickly and has remained in demand for the past decade. It’s beautiful and hard to get… a timeless recipe for popularity.
Strange Fun Art: Happy Ride
The painting “Happy Ride” by Miss Mindy is going to be part of the “Baby Tattooville On Parade” exhibit at the Riverside Art Museum this October. “Strange” and “fun” aren’t just adjectives that describe Mindy’s art, they are cornerstones of her lifestyle… a happy ride indeed.
Bob Self will be highlighting Miss Mindy’s burlesque paper doll book in a future “Alternative Art Books” post. Stay tuned.
Alternative Art Books: Wicked Nursery Rhymes
The whole Baby Tattoo thing started with a book based on Gris Grimly’s “Wicked Nursery Rhymes” characters. The characters originally appeared on a popular line of apparel, but Mad Creator Gris Grimly wanted to expand their universe beyond the line art and single-sentence boundaries of t-shirt design. Simultaneously, My wife Rani and I were discussing launching a publishing company based on our enthusiasm for art, illustration, and books. Gris and I happened to meet in the right place (a bookstore in Pasadena) at the right time (late 2001), and by San Diego Comic-Con 2003 he had authored his own book Gris Grimly’s Wicked Nursery Rhymes, and Rani and I had founded our own publishing company Baby Tattoo Books.
Gris’ book looked like a kids’ book, but it was dark and macabre in a pull-no-punches way. At the time of its publication, I called it genre-defying; since then I’ve realized that most of the books Baby Tattoo publishes break conventions in one way or another. All of our books are art books. All of our books are by artists. All of our books are unorthodox. Baby Tattoo’s genre-defying beginnings have evolved evolved into a genre-defining legacy. Baby Tattoo publishes Alternative Art Books.
Happy 10th Anniversary, Gris. 2001 seems like yesterday.
- Bob Self
Alternative Art Books: Every Tuesday
Starting tomorrow, Baby Tattoo’s founder, Bob Self, will be posting every Tuesday about alternative art books that he finds noteworthy. He will be highlighting books published by Baby Tattoo, of course; but he will also be covering titles from Last Gasp, Feral House, and other publishing companies that are daring to do something different. Stay tuned to Radio Baby Tattoo.
Strange Fun Art: The Widow in the Well
This October’s “Baby Tattooville On Parade” exhibition at the Riverside Art Museum will showcase works from dozens of artists who have headlined the annual Baby Tattooville event over the past four years.
One of the paintings on display will be “The Widow in the Well” by Greg “Craola” Simkins.
All of the artists represented in the show are highly regarded in the fine art and alternative art fields; some are world-fanous masters. Their work is often figurative or narrative in ways that make the imagery accessible and fun and entertaining (not to mention strange). We will be posting more pieces from the show in the days and weeks ahead, and Baby Tattoo plans to publish a small book cataloging the exhibition. Stay tuned.
Image © Greg Simkins Used with permission
Strange Fun Art: Marketplace of Ideas
“Baby Tattooville On Parade” is an exhibition that will be on display this October at the Riverside Art Museum (RAM). The show will be loosely themed around the concept of “The Marketplace of Ideas” which suggests that freedom of expression is analogous to a free market economy where open competition produces desirable results.
Works of art are physical objects that can be bought, sold, and traded; but the ideas that inspire artists to create those works are much less tangible (yet equally valuable) commodities.
One of the paintings included in the exhibition, James Gurney’s “Marketplace of Ideas” (from his book Dinotopia: Journey to Chandara) is a literal interpretation of the notion of an intellectual bazaar where concepts can be presented, marketed, monetized, and collected as readily as tangible goods. Coincidentally, the image evokes some of the majestic architecture of the Mission Inn which has been home to the mysterious and exclusive Baby Tattooville art celebration from 2007 through 2011. “Baby Tattooville on Parade” is RAM’s fourth exhibition providing an accessible, public component to the otherwise private Baby Tattooville event.
Like Baby Tattoo Books on Facebook if you like weird fun art.
Image © James Gurney Used with permission
Sketch Theatre at La Luz de Jesus
On the evening of August 11, over 25 artists gathered around a horseshoe of mismatched and makeshift tables to autograph copies of The Art of Sketch Theatre Volume 1 for a gallery-busting number of enthusiastic book buyers at La Luz de Jesus in Hollywood. Artists and art collectors with interests ranging form mainstream illustration to alternative fine art had a chance to mix, mingle, make new acquaintances, and meet up with old friends. Alex Alvarez, founder of Gnomon School and Sketch Theatre has been attending art events at La Luz since he was a teenager; tonight was his night to be in the spotlight along with many of his Sketch Theatre peers. Congratulations, Alex (and everyone else), on making the night (and the book) a rousing success. A gallery of photos from the event has been posted on Facebook.
Visit BabyTattoo.com if you’d like to pick up a copy of The Art of Sketch Theatre or any of our other alternative art books.
2nd Annual Dr. Sketchy’s Marathon
Behind this door…
Up these steps…
Is a place beyond your imagination!
Baby Tattoo Books presents Dr. Sketchy’s Los Angeles hosted by Studio Servitu
Join our figure drawing club January 8-9 for 26 continuous hours of ’round-the-clock inspiration provided by new models, favorite models, nude models, costumed models, charmingly demure models, and outrageously exhibitionistic models. Thrill to late night erotic poses, wee-hour sleeping poses, early morning yoga poses, and who knows what else! Only 50 memberships will be allowed, so reserve your spot with a $39 donation at drsketchyla.com (membership at the door will be $45 if any of the 50 memberships are still available).
A Deal With The Devil
This promotional mini print for Michael Hussar’s forthcoming book White is SOLD OUT. If you missed it, we’re sorry (but the Devil isn’t sorry at all).
For the record:
The mini print of Michael Hussar’s “White Devil” measures four by six inches; it is hand numbered on the back, and comes enclosed in an cross-embossed, deckle-edged folder that bears a matching number. Only 250 of these mini prints were created in July 2010 to promote the forthcoming publication of Michael Hussar’s book, White.
More great things to come…
Sample This!
This set of mini prints by Jeffery Scott (1019) is F-ing awesome. Five 4×4 inch “teaser” versions of some of 1019′s newest images are housed in a hand-distressed metal box. Each box is completely unique, both inside and out, and comes with a signed and numbered certificate of authenticity. Only 100 sets (plus ten artist’s proofs) were made. At $25 (US shipping included) or $35 (international shipping included), this collector’s set is a steal. And did we mention F-ing awesome? Warning: this product contains some nudity and may have sharp edges… not intended for prissy types.
Click below to pay $25 for Sampler + US Shipping
Click below to pay $35 for Sampler + International Shipping
Hussar White
Michael Hussar’s long awaited book White: A Decade will initially be available exclusively and in very limited quantities at a soon to be announced event in Italy this February. The book will then celebrate its North American debut on Thursday, March 1 with a Los Angeles area launch party. Michael Hussar will be in attendance at both events.
The book is now available for pre-order directly from the publisher through the PayPal buttons below. Copies pre-ordered through this site will ship via USPS Priority Mail on March 1, 2012 to coincide with the book’s US launch. All books purchased through this site will ship with a custom bookplate hand-signed by Michael Hussar.
The price of the book is US$ 50.00 plus US$ 10.00 for domestic shipping, US$ 25.00 for shipping to Canada or Mexico, or US$ 40.00 for other international destinations. The price is tax included for shipments made to California addresses. Click on the appropriate link below to pre-order with the appropriate shipping destination.
Please be aware that pre-ordered books that ship on March 1st will not arrive at their destinations until a few days later. If you would like to have Michael Hussar sign a copy of the book at either the European or North American launch parties, you will have to purchase a copy at the event.
Buy Book w/ Canada or Mexico Shipping
Buy Book w/ International Shipping
If you want to receive news about Michael Hussar’s book and other forthcoming projects, please join Baby Tattoo’s mailing list by clicking the link below. When signing up, please be sure you check the box next to “Michael Hussar” under the “What Should We Keep You Informed About” section.
Shag’s Evil Twin – Print & Book Set
Is this the work of Shag or his doppelganger? Baby Tattoo Books is pleased to offer a print and book set from the darker recesses of Shag’s mind. A 12 x 9 inch, 3 color screen print has been created by Shag in a signed and numbered edition of 99 that has been placed into copies of his dark and chaotic book Autumn’s Come Undone. The print and book set is available for $200 via the PayPal button below.
Comic-Con Preview Night (358 Days)
Every year, while Comic-Con is still on the distant horizon, exhibitors are sent a three ring binder filled with important show information (the info is made available online as well). As far as I can tell, a lot of exhibitors never read this material. I skim through it myself, hunting for items that seem worthy of further scrutinization.
This year, during load out, I was deciding whether or not to toss the 2009 binder in the trash when I had a revelation. An organized exhibitor should not be waiting for (and subsequently ignoring) the official Comic-Con binder. An organized exhibitor should be proactively creating (and subsequently adding to) an in-house Comic-Con binder. Next year, when the official 2010 binder arrives, I hope to be popping out the pages and transferring them into my already established 2010 workbook.
What will be in Baby Tattoo’s workbook/binder? I don’t know. I’ll figure it out as I go.
I’ll post a photo of the binder and an update regarding its contents next week. I know you don’t really need to see a photo of a binder, but I need to give myself an incentive to start assembling it in the immediate future instead of regretting my failure to do so 358 days from now.
Mini Brandi Milne Sweetsploitation
Brandi Milne has created a mini-print featuring two too-cute characters from her book So Good For Little Bunnies. Some people call this “Adorable”; Baby Tattoo calls it “Sweetsploitation”. Take a close look. Does the bunny-doll carrying the cone look like she’s having an “F is for fun” time? Sure the birthday-bunny is enjoying herself… her submissive little friend is bringing her a gluttonous heaping helping of ice cream!
Here are the details…
4″x6″ Print on Acid-Free Heavy Weight Paper
Hand Embellished
Signed and Numbered
Packaged by Brandi Milne with a Red Bow, Candies, and a Sticker
Edition of 40 Plus 5 Artist’s Proofs
Comic-Con Exclusive: Travis Louie
Baby Tattoo is launching the company’s newest book Travis Louie’s Curiosities (co-published with Gallery 1988) at this year’s convention. The book has four different cover designs, and one of them is available only to Comic-Con attendees. The complete set of covers is pictured above; the individual covers are, clockwise from the upper left, Maxo the Wonder Chimp (Retail Edition), Bill (Comic-Con Edition limited to 300 pieces), Jenny Bad Hair (Gallery 1988 Edition limited to 150 pieces), and Jonathan Feelerbrows (Baby Tattooville Edition limited to 150 pieces).
Both Maxo and Bill will be available at Comic-Con the minute the doors open. The price for either version of the book is $30. The books are being sold at Baby Tattoo (booth 601), Hi-Fructose (booth 4939), and Last Gasp (booth 1614). Travis Louie will be autographing Hi-Fructose (4939) on Thursday at 4pm and Saturday at noon, at Baby Tattoo (601) on Friday at noon, and at Last Gasp (1614) on Sunday at noon.
If you’re a completist and you’re attending Comic-Con, Baby Tattoo is offering 10 sets of all four covers at the Baby Tattoo booth (601) for $120 per set. Each set comes with a signed and numbered print produced by Gallery 1988 to accompany their edition of the book.
Retailers Rule
Baby Tattoo is the proud sponsor of this year’s Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retail Award at San Diego Comic-Con. Baby Tattoo could not exist without the support of retailers, and the Eisner Spirit sponsorship gives Baby Tattoo a way to acknowledge the company’s debt to every store that has ever opened its doors so that consumers would have a place to buy the things they want and need and love.
Thanks, retailers!
