Three marionettes based on Pinocchio from “A Real Boy” exhibition at Italian American Museum of Los Angeles. Photo: Liz O.
Sitting on the corner of Main and Cesar Chavez is the Italian Hall, a squat, two-story brick building that dates back to 1908. In the early 20th century, it welcomed guest speakers like Emma Goldman and Ricardo and Enrique Flores Magón. During Prohibition, it hid a speakeasy. Today, it’s part of El Pueblo de Los Angeles, the historic district that include’s some of the oldest remaining buildings in the city, and is home to the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles.
It took a while to get this recording on to Mixcloud, but you can now hear the first hour of my set from Club Underground for Gorillaz x Daft Punk night, recorded live at Grand Star Jazz Club on August 11, 2023.
What are you doing Labor Day Weekend? If you’re in Los Angeles, head down to Chinatown where I’ll be playing twice at Grand Star Jazz Club over the holiday weekend.
This is basically my dream home. Spotted at King Richard’s Antique Center in Whittier. (Pic: Liz O.)
The best way to experience King Richard’s Antique Center is when you have a lot of time on hand and, probably, a good amount of money to spend. However, on my most recent trip to the 57,000 square foot vintage and antique market in Whittier, I had neither and it was still a very good time.
Los Angeles State Historic Park after the storm. (Pic: Liz O.)
Less than halfway through the mile-long track that runs the periphery of L.A. State Historic Park, I realize that today’s outfit is entirely inappropriate for the weather. I pulled over a KXLU hoodie that I’ve probably had since I was a DJ at the college radio station because there was a chance of more rain in the morning, but that chance looked slim-to-none by 10:30 a.m., so I wasn’t about to walk around with an umbrella. A hoodie was a good just-in-case alternative, I thought before leaving the apartment, failing to remember that it’s August, not January, and it’s muggy af outside.
I’m sweating more than I should be for something even less intense than a power walk, a lot more. I’m actually disgusted with myself and my inability to acclimate to a summer where the heat has been far from dry. I don’t know how to dress, let alone deal with moderately curly hair that’s prone to frizz, in this weather. It’s a culture shock— like that time I spent a Labor Day Weekend in Atlanta baffled by warm rain and people calling every woman “ma’am”— except that I’m at home.
Inside the Little Tokyo/Arts District Metro Station (Photo: Liz O.)
I chose the most inconvenient entrance to the 7th Street/Metro Center Station. It’s the one on the corner of 7th and Figueroa, the first one you’ll notice if you’re walking from Target, which I was, and the one that might be most convenient if you’re trying to take the Metro to Long Beach or Santa Monica, which I was not. I was going to Chinatown, which meant that I needed the A towards Azusa. This also meant that I would head down to the A/E platform, then upstairs to cross the tracks, then down again to board the Azusa train that might have been pulling up to the stop right as I hastened my pace. I darted up and down steps despite hauling two totes— one loaded with groceries, the other with a wet bathing suit and towel— and a purse.
Michael Quatro at Melba Moore records found at the In Sheep’s Clothing x Japonesia Night Market at Homage Brewing in Chinatown (Photo: Liz O.)
In July, I wrote a story for LAist about how there are loads of cheap or free concerts happening in L.A., but finding out about them has become increasingly difficult because social media sucks and local music coverage is virtually nonexistent. It was a popular story. I ended up talking about it on LAist radio twice, including a spot that ran on Morning Edition. Loads of people told me they were having the same issue finding out about shows. Someone even came up to me while I was DJing at Underground and mentioned reading it.
Inside L.A. Art Book Fair at Geffen Contemporary at MOCA on August 13, 2023. (Photo: Liz O.)
Late in the afternoon on the final day of Printed Matter’s L.A. Art Book Fair, the line outside of MOCA’s Geffen Contemporary stretched to the Japanese American National Museum. I had just stumbled upstairs from the Little Tokyo Metro station and across 1st Street, which was closed to traffic and lined with people hanging out on the sidewalk. That had nothing to the with the book fair though. It was also Nisei Week and the parade was set to start soon. But, I didn’t know that at the time. I just saw throngs of people, flashed back to the years in which I reported from Anime Expo and San Diego Comic-Con and groaned.
Thanks to everyone who came out to Underground for Gorillaz x Daft Punk night on August 11. I’ll be back with Larry G. on Friday, August 18 at Underground. Once again, both floors of Grand Star Jazz Club will be open and you can catch me on the second floor playing from open to close. Tickets are available now on Eventbrite.
Grand Star Jazz Club is located at 943 N. Broadway, right next to the Bruce Lee statue in Chinatown’s Central Plaza. Party starts at 9:30 p.m. This is a 21+ event.
Check out Los Angeles-based DJ Liz O. at one of her upcoming gigs.
I’m back at Underground on Friday, August 7 with Larry G. This week, it’s Gorillaz x Daft Punk night and both floors of Grand Star Jazz Club will be open. We’ll be playing our favorite tracks from both Gorillaz and Daft Punk alongside a mix of indie dance, post-punk, synthpop and more. Tickets are available now on Eventbrite.
