Weekend Recap | First Fridays, The Friends of Steve McQueen Car Show, & more

It has been a busy weekend for the event goers in the Los Angeles area. With an array of events for everyone to go to your time could have been no less than exciting, and a bit tiring. And with something for everyone there should have been no reason to not get out of the house and experience the somewhat nice weather. The jammed packed Friday to Sunday events were as follows...

First Friday

The Friends of Steve McQueen Car Show

The genericmanifesto

First Friday

Friday is normally a mundane day when it comes to events but First Fridays has changed that. At 7:00 PM the extravaganza starts with most of the stores staying open, setting up and entertaining after hours quests. At 10:00 when I got their the crowds were only just showing up for the late night after parties.

The Stronghold is where you would have found me, where I was invited by Ryan one of the men who keep the place afloat may it be willingly or not. Well, after some time people watching and taking a few pictures, even taking a walk down the overly crowded streets filled with drunks, some stoned, and others just well dressed people I headed upstairs into the great scene of the Stronghold to see the Makepeace Brothers. They were amazing and had a stage presence that few bands have these days through games and conversation with the crowd.

Not long later the event was over and still Ryan was not able to come upstairs due to his duties --dedicated, I know-- but after meeting some people and having enjoyed the night the bed was all that I needed.

The Friends of Steve McQueen Car Show

In the early AM even before the sun came up the boots were thrown on and the jacket grabbed expecting minor rain at the ground of the Boys Republic in Chino Hills, the same place that Steve McQueen spent the early days of his youth. And that is where I spend the 8:00 AM hour for the 2nd annual charity car show known as the Friends of Steve McQueen Car Show. Exhibiting cars and motorcycles from the movies, life and love of Steve McQueen. Everything from the Mustang of Bullit to the bikes from On Any Sunday the cars and bikes were a sight to see and definitely worth the second trip in a less than a month -- the first being for Planes of Fame. Words escape me when trying to describe the sight, but the few pictures I took say a thousand each.

The genericmanifesto

Space15twenty this Saturday held a gather of some of the most stylish of people and some of the most impressive of interior designs. Along with the launch of the Generic Man Spring/Summer line was the opening of the genericmanifesto and a beautiful line of women's shoes. Plus a showing of fantastic clay pieces, SHADES sunglasses, Arkitip publications about and much more. And the highlight was the recycled materials -- wood and cardboard -- that made the interiors that much more attractive and making the centerpiece, a gray fiat in great condition. But also if you like the interiors everything is for sale. So check it out, possibly for longer than the 5 minutes I was there which is why I must use the photos that Bobby Solomon of Kitsune Noir took. Thanks Bobby.








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Ed "Big Daddy" Roth & Rat Fink

Though first associated with the hot rod culture of the 50's, the above symbol came to represent a multitude of counter cultures. Depending on what Rat Fink or the "Monster Hot Rod"er was doing, it could represent anything from surfing, motorcycling, skateboarding, hot rods, or the grunge lifestyle. Now I have been a fan of the "Monster Hot Rod" art form for quite some time and have found that not very many people are enlightened to this major part of the counter culture/kustom kulture that has been around for the past 60 years.

While born in Beverly Hills, Ed "Big Daddy" Roth grew up in Bell, CA and was interested in only two things; his autoshop class and art. And though not as well known as his creation called Rat Fink, Ed Roth was a custom mechanic and took the artform of automechanics from a backyard hobby to a full blown activity where he refined and created fiberglass bodyworks.

Ed Roth took "Monster Hot Rod" art to a new level but was not and never will be the pioneer, that role will be forever in the hands of the great Stanley Mouse. Though to look at the early works of both Roth and Mouse would prove to be intriguing since neither can be pinpointed as to who the author is, Mouse never went as far with the artform as Roth had. Mouse ended up working on tour posters for bands of the psychedelic age leaving Roth to improve and expand on the "Monster Hot Rod" artform.

Now out of great coincidence I found a group of classic Rat Fink toys at my work the other day and found out today that my boss owns the licensee to Rat Fink and all affiliate Roth artwork. Amazed I expounded upon them my love for "Monster Hot Rod" art and was blessed with the chance to write the storyboard for a series of shorts featuring Rat Fink. I don't know where to start. And the best part, below is my research. And that is what I get to do all day, when I'm not doing sales for them.





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