Hollywood: Paying respect to Michael Jackson

A very "Day of the Locust" afternoon in Hollywood as streams of people gather to place flowers by Michael Jackson's star in front of the Mann Chinese. An outpouring of people and emotion that reminded me of the tributes and flowers to Princess Di outside Kensington Palace but with some only-in-L.A. craziness and media frenzy: 10 satellite news trucks, LAPD on horseback, helicopter buzzing overhead and all of Hollywood Blvd.'s best impersonators out in full force asking folks if they want a picture (Elvis, Marilyn, 2 Captain Jack Sparrows, 2 Obamas, Spider-Man, Batman & the Joker and Dorothy from the Wizard of OZ).   

I met Michael backstage at a Queen show at the LA Forum--Freddie Mercury was still in the band so it was decades ago.  I was there to interview the band for Videowest. I asked Michael if he wanted to be interviewed. No, he politely declined, but he told me he recognized me from TV.  Not sure what channel he was watching since I've never been on TV, but I was too awed to correct him (and he had two huge bodyguards in the days before anyone had bodyguards). He went to say hi to Freddie and watched the show from the side of the stage. Quiet and soft-spoken--he thanked me for getting him a soft drink--and a music fan--that's how I remember him. Take a final bow.

Silver Lake: LA Mill and Intelligentsia make the tabloids thanks to Chris Pine.

At Atwater's Salon Mix I caught up on the tabloids from the last couple of weeks. Thanks to "Star Trek's" success (I'm a fan!), Chris Pine appears in numerous People and US Weekly issues with his favorite local haunts in the background. The actor likes to spread his coffee love around: the paparazzi have tracked him outside both LA Mill and Intelligentsia.  

Silver Lake: Bossy but nice graffiti artist tags reservoir path.

"Enjoy the view. Enjoy this minute. Tell them you love them." Lots of sweet platitudes from an anonymous Silver Lake graffiti artist who's added colorful and very legible instructions to the reservoir's walking path. Fingers crossed they used soy-based chalk, which will dissolve into biodegradable dust that will decompose the walking path's most annoying aspect--dog poop. And yes, the jasmine does smell nice. 

Echo Park: Brite Spot gets a cameo in "Food, Inc."

"Food, Inc." is the documentary du jour: an elegantly crafted investigation of U.S. government food policies and a hard look at agri-business giants. Most disturbing is footage shot in cattle slaughter houses, chicken farms  and the terrible killing floor for pigs.  Echo Park's Brite Spot has an early cameo: writer Eric Schlosser is interviewed at the counter and served up a very appetizing looking cheeseburger and fries.  Eat before the movie; that cheeseburger will lose its appeal but you'll learn the hard truth about America's food chain.

Silver Lake: Enormous Tiny Art Show tonight 6/5/09

Steve and Alyssa Melendrez at The Living Room are sponsoring this sure to be crowd pleasing art show and sale tonight: tiny art (can't wait to see that) offered at less than $500/piece.  Vodka, too! 8p.m.-11p.m. @ 3531 Sunset Blvd., L.A., 90026. 

Interview Project @ David Lynch.com

I've been following film director David Lynch's career since "Eraserhead" hit college campuses back in the day: check out the vintage poster (above).  Presented by Hampshire College's "Films in Discretion" the packed screening was...wait for it...$1.  "The-lady-in-the-radiator" promises that "in heaven everything is fine."  Today, David Lynch.com launches "Interview Project," an online road trip that profiles people found at the edge of the highway. Evocative sound and music and up-close-and-personal profiles; the first portrait, entitled "Jess" is remarkably profound.  Maybe Jess' long-lost family will find him because of it. Check it out.