10th Annual Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead)

Come celebrate the lives of family or friends who have passed on. Dia De Los Muertos is being held Saturday October 24, 2009 at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. For those of you who don't know what Dia De Los Muertos is: it is what others may know as All Souls' Day (Catholics) or Dia de Finados (Brazil) and is celebrated in Mexico and Latin America on November 1st and 2nd. However, in LA I think they are starting a few days earlier. Anyways, it is a celebration and way for people to get together and remember their beloved family and friends who have died (including pets!).

 To cite a source, Wikipedia says that "Traditions include building private altars honoring the deceased, using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed, and visiting graves with these as gifts." So, if you're looking to remember those who have died in a positive and memorable way I think you should go to Dia De Los Muertos at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Bring something to remember a loved one, or just keep them in mind, while participating in a unifying event. Everyone will die one day, I guess that's what unifies us. But, at the same time it's not that sad because maybe there will be people celebrating your life at an event such as this one day. I guess what I'm trying to say is that death is made to be so serious, why not reserve one evening to remembering the lives of the dead as if they were alive.

More Info:
Saturday October 24th, 2009
4pm-11pm

The Ceremonial Altar Set-Up:
Friday October 23rd, 2009
5pm-onward

Cost: $10/person, children = free.
Dress: You can come dressed how you are or in Calaca apparel
Be prepared to: Celebrate the lives of the dead! Eat Mexican cuisine! Enjoy Day of the Dead altars, art, skulls, and merchandise! See traditional Aztec blessings and regional musical-dance group dedications! An evening concert! Family activities! Contests! Historical lecture about Dia De Los Muertos! Have fun!!!
Come: EARLY for parking!
Bring: $10 for parking!

Address: Hollywood Forever Cemetery
6000 Santa Monica Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90038

I'm definitely going to this. xo

Photo Credit: LA Day of the Dead

Eagle Rock Music & Arts Festival: Tastemaker of 2010

           Like the last eleven years the Annual Eagle Rock Arts & Music Festival is being held Saturday October 3rd from 5pm until 11pm FOR FREE (all ages)! Yes, FOR FREE! The street festival will commandeer six blocks of Colorado Boulevard in sunny and humid Eagle Rock, California. There will be three main stages (even more sub stages): Global/World, Indie/Emerging, and a Kids’ Stage. Just to let you know ahead of time, you should probably take public transportation like the Metro if you want to get there without having to hock over what’s left of your savings for parking. So, get there early, and get there smart. Save your money for the food booths!

And as with most music you have to weed out the stuff you don’t exactly vibe with and hang on to dear life to the ones you do mesh with. So, I hate to do it, but I’ve researched a lot of the artists on the bill and I’m only recommending you stop by certain live acts, which I entitle:  “My Faves By Stage”. The stages I look forward to the most are these six: Emerging, American Legion Hall, Kingsize Sound Lab, The Ship, Razorcake/Zocaloc, and South in the Park/Future Music Stage. Although I pride myself on my super human concert going abilities, I am merely still a mortal human so I can’t make it to each, but I will try to make it to a few of them. You gotta pick your battles people!

Drawing from past experience I take that each of these stages represent what the independent music scene in Los Angeles is all about -- variety. Some of last year’s performers turned this year’s Indie darlings include: Earlimart, Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros, Princeton, and Mika Miko. So because of past reputation you can bet your sweet headphones that this year’s diverse lineup’s gonna bring it and bring it for FREE.

My faves from the Emerging Stage are: Faraway Places, Fol Chen, Free Mortal Agents, and No Age. Faves from the American Legion Hall Stage are: Shakey Graves, Random Patterns, Bob Bruno, and Pocahaunted. Faves from the Kingsize Sound Lab Stage are: Andrew Lynch and Alaskan Summer. From the Ship Stage: WonderGround, Ovideo, The French Semester, Nico Stai, and of course The Happy Hollows. On the Razorcake/Zocaloc Stage are: The Ignorant, Carnage Asada, and Apples and Onions. Last and final of my favorites are on the South in the Park/Future Music Stage with: DJ Nobody, Jeremy Sole, and last but not least, Peanut Butter Wolf.

This event will be packed in waves since everyone is trying to find things to do for free nowadays. So please, be prepared for some musical and cultural interaction with your fellow Angelenos. Maybe meet up with a few friends for a bar crawl down Colorado Blvd or just get out in the sun for while, since you’re out of the office anyways and it still feels like Summer.  Make note of all these artists because you will definitely hear more about them in 2010…

Flyer By The Eagle Rock Center for the Arts

Listen to the bands beforehand:

Emerging Stage Faves:

Faraway Places - http://www.myspace.com/thefarawayplaces

Fol Chen - http://www.myspace.com/folchen

Free Moral Agents - http://www.myspace.com/freemoralagents

No Age - http://www.myspace.com/nonoage

American Legion Hall Stage Faves:

Shakey Graves - http://www.myspace.com/shakeygraves

Random Patterns - http://www.myspace.com/randompatternsmusic

Bob Bruno - http://www.myspace.com/bobbbruno

Pocahaunted - http://www.myspace.com/pocahaunted

Kingsize Sound Lab Stage Faves:

Andrew Lynch - http://www.myspace.com/andrewlynch

Alaskan Summer - http://www.myspace.com/alaskansummermusic

The Ship Stage Faves:

WonderGround - http://www.myspace.com/wonderground

Ovideo - http://www.myspace.com/ovideomusic

The French Semester - http://www.myspace.com/thefrenchsemester

Nico Stai - http://www.myspace.com/nicostai

The Happy Hollows - http://www.myspace.com/thehappyhollows

Razorcake/Zocaloc Stage Faves:

The Ignorant - http://www.myspace.com/theignorant

Carnage Asada - http://www.myspace.com/familiacarnageasada

Apples and Onions - http://www.myspace.com/applesandonions

South in the Park/Future Music Stage Faves:

DJ Nobody - http://www.myspace.com/nobodyelvin

Jeremy Sole - http://www.myspace.com/musaics

Peanut Butter Wolf - http://www.myspace.com/pbwolf

OKTOBERFEST Is Back!

Photo by Alpine Village Website

That's right ladies and gentlemen brush off those dusty steins and get a-drinkin'! Oktoberfest isn't just for October - in Torrance it goes from September 12th through October 25th! 


Where is this hidden European drunk fest happening, you ask? In Torrance, California, at a wonderful place called Alpine Village. 


The Village, as I like to call it, is decked out in old European style - wood, big open beer garden (with shade!), food (prep before hand with antacids or Tums, anything it's buffet-style), and daily events that are appropriate for the entire family. That's not all! There's a little village where there are quaint stores, there's an open air market (flea market), restaurants, a market (that has a guy called the Sausage Master!!!), and a bakery (pastries, cookies, Bavarian goods)! Go and get your schnitzel on! 


Oh, and there's even a lil' chapel for anyone who wants to get hitched...just sayin'. 
Just a note to anyone 21 and older who are going to drink: GET A DESIGNATED DRIVER AND COME IN GROUPS! The bigger the group, the more friends you can share the experience with, the better and more fun you will have drinking, eating, and chicken dancing. 


Meet me there! Or crash at my house cause I live down the street (if I'm friends with you!). 

Alpine Village

833 W. Torrance Blvd. 

Torrance, CA 90502

310.327.4384

Oktoberfest Schedule as shown on official Alpine Village website: 

BEER GARDEN SCHEDULE

Fri - 6:30 pm to 1 am (21years and older only)
$8.00 Admission

Sat - 6 pm to 1 am (21years and older only)
$8.00 Admission

Sun - Noon to 8:00 pm (Family Day)
$5.00 Admission
Children under 12 free with adult

OMM PA PA BRASS BANDS

---

Beer Garden: Every Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Alpine Inn: Wednesday & Thursday 11:30 am - 2:30 pm

HARD Haunted Mansion - NOW 2 DAYS!!!

Which means people who already bought the October 31st Saturday tickets will now have to buy the Friday tickets...frick. Well, atleast it's at different venue!!! Yes!!! The Shrine!!! You know, for all this money that's going to be spent, THIS BETTER BE THE BEST HALLOWEEN EVER!

Somehow ravers out there will find a way to get an extra 60 note, especially if they wanna see the following entertainers:

Photo by HARD

Below is what came in my email and to be honest, I was kinda pissed. To be really honest, REALLY PISSED.

Geez, couldn't you have done this sooner guys at HARD? Now I gotta figure out where I'm gonna pull an extra $60 out of my ass. Thanks NONETHELESS.

Hi,

We're excited to announce that HARD Haunted Mansion at the Shrine is now a 2 DAY EVENT!

Your ticket order is still 100% valid for SATURDAY NIGHT.

If you would like to switch your order to FRIDAY TICKETS, or the TWO DAY PASS instead, simply purchase the correct tickets and we will refund your original transaction. You can notify us of the new purchase by emailing "help@groovetickets.com" or by sending a message to customer service by clicking the "Customer Service" link at the bottom of the page.

Sincerely,

Dr. Groove

UPDATE (see hardfest.com for changes!!!) HARD Haunted Mansion 2009

The first thing I want to say (to get it out in the open, I don't like keeping secrets) is that I hope HARD Haunted Mansion (October 31st) doesn't turn out like HARD Summer did. I'm pretty confident that the admins down at the Forum will have learned their lesson - don't call the 5-0 unless some serious shits going down! And, here's also to hoping that ticket distributors won't oversell the event!

However, I remain optimistic because...

This Hallow's Eve AND the newly added Friday show has the sickest lineup!!!

Guys and Gals! I was very hesitant on buying a ticket for this event because of the past. But, it's time to move away from the past! It only costs 60 bucks ($60)!!! It's at the Forum - it's not that far away! And why not give yourself the right to go? Do it because the day before Halloween and actual Halloween aren't just for kids!! And fucking shit you guys - JUSTICE. DEADMAU5. MAJOR LAZER. BASEMENT JAXX. DESTRUCTO. STEVER AOKI.

GET YOUR TICKETS QUICK 'CAUSE THEY ARE A GUARANTEED SELL OUT!

I'll see y'all there! If anyone's going contact me and let me know what you'll be wearing!

Don't forget to follow Gary Richards (the guy in charge of all things HARD) on Twitta!!! @DestructoHARD

All info on HARD Events go to their official website here!!!

And go to their official Twitta! @HARDFEST