P-Town

Hope everyone had a great New Years! This past December, I've been doing some domestic traveling on the weekends. The change in scenery was just what I needed to face the upcoming decade with a fresh approach.

That being said, this post I'd like to share some bits and pieces of my travels to Portland, Oregon.

Portland:

Lodging Day 1: The Ace Hotel is a fun indie type hotel. Each room is painted by a different artist and everything is either refurbished or vintage. It's also easy on the wallet and pet friendly. Best of all, the hotel is on top of Clyde Common (a great place to go for dinner and drinks).





Voodoo Doughnut: Sweet Sacrilege's Happiest Place on Earth. Good eats, good music, and good views (I couldn't stop staring at the silver fox working the counter when I visited).







Lodging Day 2: The Nines Hotel. Gorgeous and luxurious. I loved that they provided free water bottles and brownies in the room.










Around the City: Portland is seriously a beautiful city. It has big city look and small town charm. You really do get the best of both worlds. The vintage shopping here is simply amazing. The selection is fantastic and inexpensive! Often times in LA, you feel like you're getting ripped off because everything is $$$. Oh.. and then there's Powell's. Powell's is a new and used bookstore. It takes up a whole city block and is 3 or 4 stories tall. I left with 3 old punk art books. I found one of them on Ebay going for $75.. I got it at Powell's for $25.








FOOD!!

*Chocolate & Chili Shot, Mocha and Duck Fat & Butter Thumbprint Cookie*


*Cassoulet with Duck Confit, Fennel Sausage, and Pork*


*Escargot*

Just for fun:





*Images via TFS*

Sleepless Nights Turn Up Some Amazing Finds...

#1: Twisted Lamb


I just finished watching Towelhead and I'm much too disturbed to sleep. In my search for peace of mind, I stumbled upon Twisted Lamb... and I have to say I'm in blog love.

Before I move on to samples of images on this blog, let me share with you the first entry.

Dear whoever you are,
Bless this blog
So it may writhe
Sick twisted fashion
That keeps us black sheep alive.
A-fucking-men

-Twisted Lamb


Seriously now. I wish I had known of this blog since day 1.

Now on to images...











If you like what you see, there are much much more where those came from. Please visit Twisted Lamb for more, I assure you, you won't be disappointed.

#2: Dinner In The Sky

I really don't really have anything else to say about this concept aside from "Where do I sign up!?" I think the pictures are pretty self explanatory. For the Vegas dinner, $199 will get you a gourmet dinner during sunset, with a view of the Las Vegas Strip. I believe this is offered in various countries including the US, Belgium, France and the UK. For more info please go to Dinner In The Sky







*images courtesy of uhmm... google images?

Necromance: Los Angeles

nec⋅ro⋅man⋅cy  [nek-ruh-man-see]
–noun
1. a method of divination through alleged communication with the dead; black art.
2. magic in general, esp. that practiced by a witch or sorcerer; sorcery; witchcraft; conjuration.


About a year and a half ago, while driving through Melrose in Los Angeles, I caught a glimpse of a small shop window that would release some raging curiosity in me that would only start to subside last weekend. The display in this window, with it's antique dolls and mannequin parts hanging from large hooks, literally caused me to squeal with delight. One look at the name of the boutique, and I knew I had to go in. This shop was Necromance.

Unfortunately it was close to 2 AM, and the store was obviously closed. I had been on the website, but hadn't been to physically go to the store until last Friday, while on a impromptu shopping excursion with my roommate.

Honestly, all I can say was that upon entering, I immediately fell in love. The first thing I noticed, was the huge stuffed peacock the owner, Nancy, had mounted on the wall above her counter. Secondly, her beautiful grayhounds, Darwin and Donner. And then there were the collections of skull figures, books, old medical devices and pharmaceutical bottles.

I browsed through some amazing fang rings, and skull beads. And ended up with two postcards and a bone ring for my thumb.

Nancy was kind enough to let me take pictures of her two stores on Melrose. One is dedicated to human biological artifacts, and the second is dedicated to animals.

Nancy, and the kind shop girl at the taxidermy store were extremely sweet. If you're into the creepy stuff like I am, I highly suggest visiting Nancy and her doggies at her shop in Los Angeles.

Necromance
7220 Melrose Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90046
(323) 934-8684


Necromance East: Focusing in "olde" medicine, mourning jewelry, and things related to human death.
Also, included, a picture of one of the greyhounds, it fell asleep right in the middle of the store!










Necromance West: Focused on taxidermy. They had a great selection of taxidermy jewelry as well.









Also.. managed to scarf this baby down. Bratwurst sandwhich from Clementine Bakery. Yum!