I Play For L.A.

Sometimes I wonder if the above statement is a curse or a blessing.
I attended the the Kings (hockey) home opener last night at the Staples Center and it was good times. like any home opener it was full of optimism for the new season. I saw old friends that are die hard fans and have been attending since the days of the Forum. While I may not be a hockey fan seeing a game in person is a fun experience. Kings fans are great fans, you see entire families walking around the arena, all completely outfitted in Kings jerseys. Last night had a tremendous feel and the energy that sparked the Kings to a 3-1 lead. And that's were everything began to unravel. By the end of the night the Kings had gone down 5-1, fans were leaving early and people began to panic and wonder were the season was headed. Obviously 3 games in is not the time to panic. But history has not been kind to this team. Great starts to the season have turned out disappointing and the playoffs seem to bypass L.A. and head straight up the road every year to Anaheim. Still it was a night to remember for the party atmosphere of a season opener. I'll definitely be down there again on Friday for the match against Boston. As far as sports go for an L.A. fan Saturday was dismal. My Bruins lost to a sorry Notre Dame in college football. USC even lost (ha ha) the trouble is I can"t even gloat because my team was equally inept.
Having a free Sunday is beautiful. While there are lots of little errands still to do, I look forward to parking it in the sofa chair and watching as many soccer and football games as possible.

High School Musical....The new Grease?

Welcome back dear reader.
Earlier today I had to take care of some business within the famed Staples Center in downtown LA and curiously enough the arena was bustling for the event of the night, High School Musical on Ice. Now I know enough about this popular Disney franchise to know that it is a heavy hitter in the current sphere of entertainment. From what I remember reading in the papers the second High School Musical did some of the highest ratings ever on cable tv. And while I've brought up comparisons with Grease. The comparison may perhaps be unfair. Grease is an eternal classic. A musical that transcends its era. It's music to this day is beloved and kept alive with plenty of Broadway versions all over America. Yet as I walked down the concourse of the arena one thing was very clear, High School Musical is a money making machine. All throughout the arena, vendors were setting up and displaying every form of merchandise imaginable. Now does marketing and merchandising a la Disney affect or tarnish the way a movie or show is perceived over time? In other words would we still look fondly at Grease if it was so heavily marketed and product driven?
As I made my way out of the Staples Center I purposely exited thru the doors of the 11th street entrance to see firsthand the progress of the LA Live complex across the street and most notably the Nokia Theater (the new home of the Grammy's). Now from my contacts I've heard two differing views. A good friend of mine who has already toured the inside told me she was not impressed. According to her the Kodak Theater in Hollywood is much nicer. However speaking with another of my contacts, and a fellow alum as well, his opinion is quite different. That place is going to be amazing, he told me, they are throwing so much cheddar at that building its going to blow everything away. While he has not toured the Nokia he told me that all the events scheduled are sold out. And there are crews working 24 hrs to have it ready to go in the next week or two for its debut concert. Well it has actually been a light day for me, I was thinking of going to Koreatown for a late lunch but I've decided to head homeward. Tomorrow I have a dinner date in Westwood and methinks there will be some good times. Better save my energy ;-).

Just your AVERAGE charly.

Hello Everyone,
I'm sure that every person starting off with their first blog entry searches desperately for that awesome opening line that will blow away the reader and make him or her the biggest blogger on the block. Well for sure you won't find it here. I think I'll start with some baby steps testing the waters to make sure it's not too cold before taking that first dip. WOW! I still have you here. Okay let's see....A little background on myself, well first of all I'm a pretty young guy just tasting his 30's (remember 30 is the new 20). Born and raised in LA. Degree from UcLA and own my own business. The last two years has been a time for some amazing experiences from constant traveling to Mexico (I speak fluent Spanish) and the east coast. Yet traveling has only given me more of an appreciation for the City of Angels. There are few places in the world where you can pretty much satisfy your every whim. Sushi? Skiing? Surfing? All in the same day! Come on now! So what sets me apart from the millions of others out there telling you how good or how bad their lives are? Or perhaps telling you how LA is in fact a hell hole.
Every morning I wake up an ordinary person with an extraordinary life. For the last 5 years I have attended every Laker, Clipper, and Kings home game (sans a few due to illness). So what? you may say. I've got a cousin whose a stadium usher who hasn't missed a Yankee home game in 19 years. Well I'm not an usher, an executive, or even a season ticket holder. However the nature of my business allows me access to some the most incredible venues in LA. Rest assured that I conduct a legal and profitable business. Anyways, last weekend I attended the season ending series between the Dodgers and the Giants. Baseball games seem to drag on forever so I was not looking forward to spending my entire weekend at the Stadium. However I did have some clients that I had to conduct some business with. While baseball may not be my favorite sport, the atmosphere in a stadium with so much tradition and history as Dodgers Stadium has a level of energy that draws you in and takes you to the days of long summers and worrying about homework. As I walked down the field level concourse, a peanut vendor, whom I have gotten to know over the years came up to me and greeted me warmly. I don't know what I'm going to do with myself. He said, I've been here for the last 49 years and today is my last day. His eyes were red from crying. do you know that short Asian man that sits down in this aisle? He asked me. I really didn't feel like telling him I didn't so I simply nodded my head. Well he came up to me and brought me a roast beef sandwich from Cantor's deli. I just burst into tears when he gave it to me. It is one of the nicest things anyone has ever done for me. I'm still crying. I spoke to the old vendor for a bit longer congratulating him before he ran off to tell his story to someone else. The next day someone had told me that he was interviewed by famous Dodger announcer, Vin Scully and it was played over the Jumbo screen. He received an ovation from the crowd and I'm sure the tears were flowing all weekend. It's amazing to meet people like that. I think that the people I have met over the years have been an incredible blessing. While most people obsess over celebrity sightings and their actions (and I see many), LA is an incredible city because of the stories of its people rather than those produced by its industry. There are days that seem surreal. And while you may find me at the Farmer's Market in the early mornings waiting for the first apple fritters to come out of the oven at Bob's or jumping on the early train to San Juan Capistrano for some tortas at El Campeon everyday brings the promise of new adventure. May your life be extraordinary whoever you are!
Cheers