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.
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.
Alternative Art Books: Tim Biskup’s 100 Paintings
Tim Biskup’s pint-sized book 100 Paintings showcases some of the earlier work from this established artist. Everything is shown on a 1:1 scale, but Biskup takes complete control of his canvas. Each piece showcases fun, modern stream of conscious compositions heavily inspired by the work of Jim Flora and Mary Blair. With subjects ranging from cute girls in berets to birds chirping to Japanese kaiju, this snack-sized treat appeals to many.
Soon after this book was released, Tim worked on an ambitious project known as the Jackson 500, which concluded into four volumes. While all of the work is the size of a business card, Biskup shows his natural talent for color theory and geometric shapes in his work. It’s an interesting and exciting path to see how he has evolved as an artist in his themes and technique, and 100 Paintings is a definitive starting point.
San Diego Tagging Tattoos
Tattoos have become synonymous with body art. Apart from being great physical identifiers, they also serve the purpose of giving new people a heads up on who a person is, even before they can interact with them. Tattoos, in this way, have become a tagging tool; whenever one sees a tattoo, they can choose to avoid contact or use the image as a launching point for a getting-to-know you conversation.
Whether one is in New York or San Diego tagging tattoos has made it easier to create opportunities for social interaction. Getting inked becomes a shared experience not just for the person who has it, but also for everyone else who sees it and chooses to acknowledge what it stands for.
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.
Adventures in Los Angeles Figure Drawing (and Modeling)
“When I first moved to LA, I was looking for odd jobs all over the place. I made a list of all my skills and tried to figure out how to turn that list into cash. One thing that I considered was being a figure drawing model; I’m quite comfortable in my own skin, and fairly good at sitting still for long periods of time. I scoured the internet, but many of the links I found were broken, or sent me to outdated sites or phone number that were no longer listed. Eventually I gave up.
“But then I found Dr. Sketchy’s! Despite a severe lack of drawing skills, I began attending with a friend just for fun. It was a great, no-pressure environment. And lo and behold, a year later I found myself modeling for them – and having a great time! Now I work regularly for them (doing everything, not just modeling) and it’s great gig. Anyone who’s interested in being drawn should check out their local branch, or, if you’re in Los Angeles, shoot us an e-mail! 
http://www.drsketchyla.com
“(PS: Mention this blog and get extra brownie points!)” – Mari Provencher
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.
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.
Paper
Stunning art made from paper on exhibit In a Giant Robot curated show at Scion Space in Culver City, California.
Life is a Circus
Brian McCarty is shooting the cover for his forthcoming book “Art Toys” in Lucerne Valley, California today. Baby Tattoo is en route to the location for a visit. All of the participants are meeting at Denny’s in Hesperia before caravaning to the dry lake bed. Elton John is playing; there is an empty circus tent across the street. More later.
The Road West
The Chicago Weekend of Horrors is over. Traci and I are on the road to the Kansas City airport. We wanted to stop at a Jizz ‘n’ Whiz, but all we could find was a Kum & Go.
Prepping and Testing
Baby Tattoo Webisodes are coming soon. We just shot a test at the Fangoria convention with Nicole F., a supercharged, supercute Chicago local. If all goes well, we’ll post the video in the weeks ahead.
Fango Continues
It was a dark and stormy night… fitting atmosphere for day 2 of Fangoria’s Weekend of Horrors. The Wyndham Chicago O’Hare feels appropriately gloomy, and the crowd seems appropriately amped.
Fango Begins
Fangoria’s 30th Anniversary Tour kicks off today at the Wyndham O’Hare in Chicago. Baby Tattoo is a proud sponsor of the tour. If you purchase a gold admission to the Chicago, Los Angeles or New York convention, you’ll receive a free copy of our popular book “Tales of the Sisters Kane” autographed by artist Christy Kane.
KC to St. Lou
Traci (Baby Tattoo freelancer extraordinaire) and I are en route to Chicago for Fangoria’s Weekend of Horrors. We’ve stopped for the night in Missouri at the Renaissance St. Louis Grand Hotel & Suites. Our room has a special feature where the bathroom door locks us out and we need to use a penny or dime as a surrogate key.
