Here's a bunch of random Halloween photos I've been saving all year. I can't remember where I got most of them.
Vermilion (above) is one of the world's great artificial colors. It's stark and in-your-face like day-glow colors are, but it also has a mystical appeal, which may be why shades of it appear on Chinese temples and magic store items.
Is this (above) plastic or plaster? I can't tell.
Maybe I can pick up some plastic masks this season. They get harder to find every year.
I like the crudely-drawn look on this holiday decoration (above) from the 1920s. You can wish the draughtsmanship had been better, but then it wouldn't have been as funny.
I'll be moving to a more rural place soon and there's half a chance that I'll be regarded as the town weirdo. Maybe I should decorate accordingly.
Do you know of any good things to do in LA, Eddie? That is, aside from Hollywood thstuff and Disney stuff. I'm in LA with my parents and for a few days, my brother. We're already planning to go see The Getty and walked the Venice pier. We'll be there until we leave on Saturday. We'll probably be going to Knott's Berry Farm. Any other ideas would be appreciated.
ReplyDeleteGW: Beverly Hills is worth seeing. I'd take the cheesy, funny bus tour of the homes of the stars, too...if it's still offered. You probably board it in Hollywood. There's plenty of fascinating architecture here but it's spread out and requires a car and a certain amount of time spent in frustrating, slow-moving traffic to see. Be sure to go on the net to research the architecture sites before you get here. Don't get caught in rush-hour traffic.
ReplyDeleteYou should also see Olvera Street, which is a place to shop for Mexican crafts. I like the architecture there. Take the subway to the railway station at the end and ask someone how to walk there. Little Tokyo might be within walking distance, in the opposite direction.
There's a second Getty museum, the Getty Villa, which is devoted entirely to ancient Greek and Roman things. It's a world-class collection. You need to get reservations in advance, show up on time, and be able to drive there. The LA County Museum has a wonderful exhibit of truly funny Inca and West Mexican pre-Columbian sculpture, but it may not be on display when you get here. Better check first. The LaBrea Tar Pits are nearby.
In Burbank, a couple of miles from Ikea, there's two terrific Halloween stores and a film industry thrift shop which sells costumes that were used in films for low prices. You can pick up a tuxedo with tails there or a space suit or a suit of armor. It's near Portos, a locally famous bakery and coffee shop. Anybody in Burbank can direct you to Portos.
Then there's Pasadena with its craftsman houses. Research it before you go. The houses are fun to drive by. If you're an engineer of almost any kind there's lots of interesting sites here. Research them before you get here. There plenty of animation studios but you have to know someone to get past the front desk.
If you're going to rent a car then research to find the proper parking spaces. Expect to shell out for parking. Rent a convertible and drive around Malibu with a girl in the seat beside you.