GotParty.com WebCam

{ August 12, 2007 @ 6:28 pm } · { Projects }
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The GotParty complex has a beautiful wildflower garden full of color and life, just like the products they sell.

I just installed a WebCam over at GotParty.com in Silverlake. We’ve got it pointing at the flower bed right now as we wait for the “good” camera to come back from the shop. Next week when the camera comes back we’ll put in on the TrackerCam Pod so it will automatically pan from the Hollywood Sign to the Griffith Park Observatory. I’m using a Sony TRV-10 with a Lan-C connection to control the zoom feature on the camera. WebCam32 is our software of choice but it has some problems being open at the same time as the TrackerPod. If you have any ideas about how to remedy this problem I would appreciate any input you have. It would be nice to get to the root of the problem instead of pulling my hair out every time it decides to get finicky.

Got Party? Then you better get over to www.GotParty.com and place your order now. GotParty.com has the best prices on flashing rings, bracelets, hair braids, tiaras and Hollywood Party Themes.

Got Hollywood? Visit GotParty.com for SuperStar statues, Star plaques, Door Hangars, Theme Graphics and more… Checkout the GoParty Webcam that points to the Hollywood Sign & Griffith Observatory (coming soon).

Got Luau? Yes, GotParty.com is also the place for Grass Table Skirts, Coconut Cups, Hula Skirts, Tiki Torches and more…

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Need an event photographer? Contact Tony Miguel for more information.

Need a Limo? The Royal Treatment Limo Company can get you where you need to be in a Stretch Chrysler 300, Chrysler Town Car, Suburban, Escalade or Prius.

Ask for Antonio, he’s a real charmer.
Se Habla Español.
Tell them Tony sent you.

Lynn’s Photo Studio Walls

{ August 12, 2007 @ 3:49 am } · { Projects }
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Last week I was browsing Craigslist.org looking for work and other “golden” opportunities only Craigslist can provide.

I responded to an ad from a girl looking for help building some walls in her newly rented photo studio. Her names is Lynn, she’s a really sweet girl from Pennsylvania currently living in Venice Beach. She creates surreal images from found objects.

The project was to create some wooden walls in this concrete basement. She needs to be able to hang things and create “rooms” in her studio so I built 2 butterfly walls.

Material List:
4 sheets of 4 x 8 x 1/2″ pressboard – $32.00
16 pieces of 2″x2″x8′ – $16.00 ea.
1 adjustable saw horse – $45.00 ea.
1 box of 1 1/4″ coarse drywall screws – $5.00
2 packs of medium size hinges – $7.00
KCRW – Priceless

Time – 2 hrs.

Lynn’s Basement Studio
The ceiling is 8′ but we had to cut the material to 7′ to clear the pipes and to enable shooting and lighting from above. We used the 12″ scraps to use as cross supports. We only had the end cuts from the sheets leftover.

Lynn’s Studio

The Room

Lynn’s Studio

The Other Wall
Lynn’s Studio

The Layout
The 2″x2″ runners are screwed to the wall to make it sturdy so when things are hung they don’t make the wall sag.

Lynn’s Studio

Lynn Builds The Wall

Lynn’s Studio

Finished Butterfly Wall
These two sets of walls are movable and don’t damage the space.

Lynn’s Photo Studio Walls

3 of the 4 Walls
Lynn can now move these butterflies around to create the space she needs. They are sturdy enough to hang projects and can be folded out of the way when she doesn’t need them.

Lynn’s Photo Studio Walls

Check back soon to see the art Lynn creates in her new space.

Have any great ideas? Please post them.

Agape Intl. Choir @ Santa Monica Pier

{ August 11, 2007 @ 6:29 am } · { Music }
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Thursday August 9, 2007

Santa Monica Pier Free Concert Summer Series

The Agape International Choir opened Thursday night for the conscious hip-hop band Arrested Development. If you’ve never seen or heard the choir and you appreciate uplifting danceable music then you need to get to it. Everyone involved is a star and when Tim takes the microphone with his foot stomping “My God” you think the pier was going to collapse. You can see the spirit in the man’s face just bursting to come forth and inspire you.

The Choir was colorful and uplifting just like you’d expect from such an entity but this group really let loose.

The crowd was friendly and everybody was having a good time.

Arrested Development was great. I remember liking them for their conciousness and danceable beat. They flew in from Atlanta for this show and it was much appreciated by the crowd who were all swaying to the beats. “Fishing for Religion” was my favorite.

Great crowd, great place, great city. The Santa Monica Free Concert Series is a great way to stay connected to your city. I ran into someone I hadn’t seen in twenty years and it was a good night.

We went over to Bubba Gump’s Shrimp for a sweet drinks and a spicy Cajun shrimp appetizer that was a little too spicy. They were a little too hot but didn’t really have much flavor. I didn’t finish them.

Dinner was a little over $100 for 4 and everyone had drinks (some, more that one) parking was $7.00. Don’t let that stop you from experiencing the Santa Monica Pier. You don’t have to spend money for a good time you can park 2 hours free at the mall and eat at Hot Dog on a Stick or a slice of pizza at the Pier. As with most things in L.A. the parking is the greatest challenge so be willing to pay to park. If you don’t want to eat greasy beach food stop at Whole Foods for something fresh and healthy and bring it with you.

I didn’t take any pictures of Arrested Development because I was dancing and enjoying the show but I did shoot some of the choir, enjoy.

Hollywood Studio Bar & Grill

{ August 3, 2007 @ 6:35 pm } · { Food }
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The Hollywood Studio Bar & Grill is located at Gower Gulch on the SW corner of Sunset & Gower.

Formerly known as Tidal Wave the “Grill” now sports a bar and Live Jazz. Chef Juan Mercado formerly of the Columbia Bar and Grill is still the chef and the staff is still basically the same. It’s a little more comfortable now and a little more upscale than before.

I like the gaspacho, the ceviche, the crabcakes, the steak, the chicken, you get the idea.

Moderately priced for the quality each plate is dressed and presented with style and truly tasty, The Hollywood Studio Bar & Grill should be your next stop for lunch or dinner. Call ahead for reservations as they get more popular every day.

Free parking in the lot. Live Jazz and a full bar.

Hollywood Studio Bar & Grill
6122 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA Phone No. (323) 466-9917 Fax No. (323) 466-9921
Online Ordering & Menu

Joshua Tree Under a Full Moon

{ May 31, 2007 @ 3:00 am } · { Photo Trips }
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Day Trip to Joshua Tree
By Tony Miguel
Insert selected images from Hidden Valley, Moonrise, Plants and Rocks.

I’m sorry it took me so long to finally make the pilgrimage to Joshua Tree. After years of hearing about it but never seeing any pictures I had no idea what was in store for me. I thought I would just see a whole lot of those plants from the U2 Joshua Tree album.
I planned my trip around the full moon. I checked the web and saw that May 30 was a full moon so I thought this was the perfect time to make the trip. My friend Sonja came along for the ride, she had been wanted a trek to the desert herself.
We left L.A. around 11:00 a.m. with everything we would need for 1 night.
A guitar, 3 cameras, water, ice chest, 2 iPods, 1 sharp military knife, crystals for cleansing, sleeping bags and pads, bundle of firewood, flashlight, chicken Andouile sausage, chips, chocolate, cheese, and carrots.
We took our time, stopping for breakfast and shopping, it took us about 2.5 hrs. to get into the town of Joshua Tree. The drive was beautiful and traffic free, not too hot, nice light and fresh air.
We drove to the North/East gate so we could drive back through the park and pick the best place to camp.
As we made our way through the park the size of the rocks and the formations immediately got me asking questions. Luckily there are geological explanations on the side of the road explaining how these formations were formed over time.
Time and pressure are responsible for all things good.
Rock climbers were all around us. I’d never seen people doing this accept at Yosemite, it didn’t look as dangerous here but I’m sure it is.
Running around the rocks with my camera I had to stop and remind myself that I’m not a rock climber and just because my hiking boots had a good grip on the rocks didn’t mean I was invincible. It was easy to become mesmerized by the beauty of the sunset and the rising of the moon as I ran around trying to get a weeks worth of photos in 30 minutes.
It was exhilarating.
We found the perfect campsite with a windbreak / sleeping area created by 3 massive boulders. The weather was perfect, the air was fresh, the birds sang and the wind whistled. Our chicken sausage tasted great cooked on the open fire to the sounds of Sonja strumming her guitar under the full moon.
The next day we went for a hike through Hidden Valley, (see photos) and then we went to see the damn.
It was a pleasant 24 hr. getaway that everyone should do at least once even if you don’t stay the night. You can always stay in a motel in Twenty Nine Palms or Palm Springs if you don’t want to camp and driving home isn’t that bad if you share the drive.
From L.A. take Highway 10 East to Highway 62 North/East to Joshua Tree.
Approximately 135 miles and 2.5 hrs. from downtown Hollywood.