It’s funny how some American cultural institutions, though supposedly predicated on reality, are in fact products of our collective imagination. Take ‘tiki’ culture, for example. When I was in LA, I had the good fortune to go to one of the country’s longest operating tiki bars: Tiki Ti. Ray Buhan opened Tiki Ti in the early 1960s after working for some of the city’s original tiki establishments, and it stands in the same spot to this day. Unbelievably, it is also still run by his family– his son, and now his grandsons tend the bar and make the 85+ concoctions on the menu. Read the rest of this entry »
Archive for the ‘Summer’ Category
August 30th, 2009
I suppose we all have ideas about what the future entails. Whether our individual future, that of our friends or family, or the future of humanity in general, the weight of what might or might not happen down the road throws a shadow over our experience of life. Some say that this is one of the unique markers of man– we are the only animals capable of projecting our thoughts (and by extension, our wills) beyond the present moment. Read the rest of this entry »
June 29th, 2009
This is a second, high summer mix, tailor made for rooftop barbecues, junkyard dancing, and sizzling down the strip. The recipe is simple, if seasonal, and comes from many years of experimentation. best followed to the letter:
Rad Summer:
(serves 1 well, but more better) Read the rest of this entry »
November 18th, 2008
Let’s cut away from the strobe lights, neon gyrating, and glitter for a second to see what’s going on in a sweaty, ill-lit, bottle festooned basement bar down the street. Well, I’ll be hog-tied: it’s Post Punk! Read the rest of this entry »
November 12th, 2008
In an attempt to up the tempo here a bit, I hereby present to you a collection of songs falling into the oft-maligned category ‘disco’. However, I am no disco fanatic, nor do I harbor false nostalgia for seventies sleaze (I wasn’t born yet). Instead, all of these lean more to early house, rap, or synth– for some reason, this particular genre is the absolute best for putting a smile on your face as you saunter down the well-pounded pavements of the Lower East Side. At least until you hit a pothole and faceplant in front of a Reena Spaulings opening. But don’t blame me. Read the rest of this entry »
October 23rd, 2008
Some days are, admittedly, better than others. For the Mondays of the world, there will always be soul. No matter how tired, cranky, or miserable I am, this is the music that turns my sniveling into something epic. Read the rest of this entry »
