OK, Let's Go

Last month, the OK Store opened up its first satelite branch in Silver Lake. All I have to say about this is, is finally. OK, seriously, er, truly, I adore this shop. One of my favorites (when I afford it, but window shopping is nice too). OK offers a gamut of bric-a-brac, tableware, furniture to books and toys of bougie, eclectic, vintage to moderately priced pieces. Eastsiders (sorry, I realize many Silver Lake-rs don't consider themselves "east la") can now attend the shop in flock. If you haven't visited OK before, try it this weekend. Maybe I'll even run into there.

Here are its hours: Thurs-Sunday 12 p.m.-6 p.m.
OK Store, 1724 Silver Lake Blvd., L.A. 90026
(323) 653-3501

Tomorrow Night: DWR's 111 Navy Chair Makes its L.A. Debut

I recently wrote a piece for Sierra Magazine on Design Within Reach's 111 Navy Chair. Tomorrow, the  chair, made of 111 recycled Coca-Cola bottles, will debut at the Beverly Hill's Design Within Reach. All attendees will have a chance to enter a drawing to win one 111 Navy Chair, I'm hoping it will be me since I could use a new eco office chair. 

Funky Threads

Thinking of picking up the needle and thread sans the grandmother lesson? Summer might be a great opp to make your own sexy, crocheted bikini. Take part in former L.A. fashion designer Jin Kim's very-hip sewing boutique, where she offers everything from funky fresh threads (no, seriously) to lessons galore on making your own vintage shift dresses. Check it here.

 

Gunning for Summer Style

If you have a moment, check out my interview with Mr. Tim Gunn. We talked about summer styles and what not to wear when it comes to your stylish men. 

Wishy Washy

Having lost the blessed use of my dishwasher three months ago and joined the ranks of countless Angelenos who handwash all their dishes, I've been on a quest to find the perfect eco-friendly dishwash soap that is harsh on stains but not too harsh on the environment. Yesterday, I found it in the form of Method's Ginger Yuzu. The first thing that gets me is its lovely flowerly fragrant. You might laugh but the scent actually elevates my mood.  Plus, its biodegradable soap suds feels like it really cleans your stuff. The San Francisco-based company is also recognized by the EPA partnership program, Design for the Environment (DfE), which means it the ingredients have a higher environmental standard, which have been reviewed by the Environmental Protection Agency. Highly recommend the Ginger Yuzu. 

For a list of DfE products, from floor cleaner to pet care, click here. 

E-Waste Not, Want Not

Have an old TV or DVD player you don't want? I'm sure you know it's a big no-no to toss it in the trash (many electronics contain a variety of harsh chemicals that would eventually leak into the ground while at our landfills). Be sure to drop 'em off at the Pasadena E-Waste Recycle event, held at the Rose Bowl today, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Open to all residents and businesses. Contact the City of Pasadena, (626) 744-4721 or email: recycle@cityofpasadena.net or click here for more information. 

Sew Hip in South Pasadena

I won't easily admit it, that I can't sew, or stitch or mend for that matter, to my friends. Until one day, I'm wearing my favorite H&M cardigan and my friend inquires, why are there only three buttons left on that thing?

Honestly, I wish I could play victim and say I was never able to be taught, except that, well, I'm SO not a victim and that I could have been taught from a young age to sew by the Pavarotti of pattern makers: my mother. My mother, an incredibly talented crafts-woman, if she wanted to, could open up her own needle point and craft stores. She can glance at any pattern or design and figure it out in a speedily manner not unlike that of a NASA computer figuring out space computations. Since I was a wee thing, I've witnessed my mother fashion clothes, home decor to jewelry accessories using needle point, knitting, crocheting, beading to quilting. Everyone had their mother knit them something at some point, but did your mamacita ever offer up custom-made clothes, booties and fashion accessories for your dolls? Yep, my mother even hooked up Barbie and Skipper with new duds every fall. I think the only thing my mother hasn't dabbled in is silk screening.

So, what I'm getting at, is that I may get a chance to finally pick up a needle and thread at Common Thread Studio in South Pasadena. Jin Kim is the owner, I stopped by there on Friday afternoon to talk about her sewing and craft store catered to all ages, but especially the modern-day young folks. Be sure to check out my your daily thread piece on her next week, I'll provide a link here.

Here are some highlights from my visit. 

The shop storefront faces a busy Mission Street, right at the Metro stop. 

Jin says it's more fun to make felt signs over print ones. Being greeted by a vibrant and textual sign when you walk in, it's hard not to agree.

A former fashion designer, Jin Kim offers a fun, hip studio to learn to sew or try silk screening.

The shop has a selection of industrial and home sewing machines.

These baby booties, featuring little birds and the words "tweet" made me want to learn how to sew.

thank you merlot, but not for the reasons you think

I don't own a scale but a gal at work does. So I stepped on it ... and realized that I have lost close to eight pounds. What? This is what happens when you sustain yourself on nothing but merlot, coffee and avocados for three months ... added that I never really let myself lay down to sleep except between 2 a.m. and 7:40 a.m. I know, I know, I think I'm actually healthier when I have eh, muscle, and weigh a little more. Merlot relaxes my senses, cools my angst from the day, and makes me forget about people who take advantage of me throughout my day--and I don't drink to the point that I can't write. The horror! And we're talking about a glass, not a bottle, my friends. It's better than a carb-loaded beer for crying outloud. I would never advocate a diet like the above. I think the healthier and more real, raw food (oh yeah and exercise) you can get, the better! I try to run but it's nowhere near as consistent as my next door neighbor who can easily cover six miles in an hour. What can I say? I traded in exercise for a career of writing? Yeah, I know, still not good enough a reason. I need one of those exercises I can do while writing a 1,000-word article in under a week. Yeah, how about that Richard Simmons? Oh, and I need to be sitting the whole time, with just my two hands moving. Is that cool? OK, great.

I should just take yoga from a friend who teaches the stuff--girlfriend time and peace of mind and body! I do try to mediate everyday, usually it's in the car right after some jerk cuts me off on the 110, but ... alas, should get sleep. Interview tomorrow evening with a very talented young lady who can sew circles around anyone. 

Author Elizabeth Gilbert on Creativity

Just finished reading "Eat, Pray, Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert. One of the best memoirs I've read since "Angela's Ashes." Found this interesting vid about her talking about how to keep on the creative process and muses on the question of whether we are all "geniuses." Take 15 minutes to get inspired--even if you aren't an artist or writer. 

Mooi Pre-Opening Party

Although I was looking forward to the Mooi opening in Echo Park tonight--the raw, vegan resto apparently has some salivating-worthy dessert items--I was none to impressed by the inadequate supply of food. Truly a let down for as long as the "Mooi coming soon" sign has lived on the store front. The "tasting" should be taken as literal since there is not more than a bite offered to maybe the lucky dozen who are quick as a fox to snatch a little goodie off the trays, which were toted around by two people. In truth, I'm not a vegan, but I often eat vegan as part as any other cuisine like you would Mexican or Thai.

A couple colleagues--including Eco Vegan Gal--of mine went so far as to ask, "If this a preview tasting, where is the food?" The food did come out but in clusters that were carried on tiny trays and promptly grabbed by the first 10 hands near the kitchen. So much for actually testing this well-reviewed catering-turned-resto. I hate to be such a critic, but here's some nice things ...

Mooi's doorway for the night was the side door (instead of the ground floor entrance on Sunset) and offered a fun, dramatic entrance down the staircase.

Although I love getting out and meeting new folks in town, the atmosphere, as one of us quickly noted, was "a weird vibe." It seemed more individuals were there to be seen more than to eat. Lame. Folks, I was there to eat! What's more I felt slightly rebuffed by the owner, who was more than happy to meet and greet with fancy-looking people, over this writer (ahem, and my colleagues), who will NOT be reviewing his place. Sorry. You gotta be willing to put in the work. No food and now, you don't even want to talk to me for a minute about your food? Why do people just expect others to default to thinking you're cool because you're "aloof?"

Even, poor overcrowded hipsters had to hover over the seven tables and odd chairs, which left many awkwardly (and drink-less) standing. 

OK, back to the nice stuff. What I liked about the interior was the varied selection of antique lamps and oversize, ornamented mirrors--reminded me of mine at home.

This was the best shot I could get of the food--what I could snag--and nope, it didn't offer much taste or thrill. Much of vegan food is also cashew-based, which, frankly, can get tiring after four or five mini bites of these. I've had more exciting vegan, raw food (hello, M Cafe de Chaya). A bit lackluster was the consensus among our writer group. 

Probably the best thing to happen this night, was the funky-fun music, which offered enough upbeat classics that my friends and I were more than happy to sway along to before calling it a night--sans the Mooi. Here, I am with yourdailythread.com founder and friend, Tracy Hepler.