This has been a fun trip. Today started with a bowl of cereal and jumping into the car once again. Then it was off to downtown L.A. and our first stop - the Grammy museum. It was located right next to the Nokia Theater, Staples Center, ESPN, etc. A really nice area and a really nice set-up inside. You could definitely spend a lot of time if you stopped and listened to all of the exhibits, watched all of the videos, and play around with all of the interactive booths on the second level.
Next up was food because, well, we were starving. But first, a trip through the Hollywood Hills. Let me tell you something...the houses are amazing, but I'm not sure I'd want to live there, even if I could ever afford it. I mean, the roads are all very narrow and winding and fast. By fast, I mean downhill fast. The "put your foot on the breaks and don't even worry about the accelerator" kind of fast. And don't even mention the threat of fires or mudslides. Insurance = outrageous. Still, it was pretty impressive to ride around and look at the houses that were there. Gigantic.
Now it was food time. Swingers in L.A. was our destination and it was busy. We ended up getting a seat outside, which wasn't too bad. It was pretty overcast and a little windy. Anyway, the sandwich was good, the fries were great, and the chocolate shake was AMAZING! I mean...I haven't had a shake that good in a long while. It was even better to drink on the go, which is what ended up happening. Hey, we had a lot to do.
The Hollywood sign was a fun trip. Gina has a certain spot that she always goes to take pictures and what not. It's up in the hills and can give smaller cars a bit of a problem if they're waiting to park (which happened to a few we saw). Still, after a little hike up a nice dirt trail, some good shots were taken. It was cool to go toward the ledge, look down, and realize you're pretty high up. Pretty high up indeed. I'm not a fan of heights, but I kept looking down. Hmmm.
The last two items on our list were to hit up the Arclight Theater and Amoeba Music in downtown Hollywood. They were right next to one another, which made it quite convenient. We parked our car in a nice complex that overlooked the city. We'll get back to this near the end. Anyway, the Arclight was a very nice movie theater with a gift shop, cafe, and ushers to show you to your seat - which you reserve when you buy your tickets in the lobby. This particular night Gina and I checked out the rock documentary It Might Get Loud. It basically follows Jack White, The Edge, and Jimmy Page at individual locations and a central area where they meet and talk about their history, theory, and love of the guitar. It was very interesting and quite entertaining to boot. Of course Detroit was mentioned during many of the Jack White segments of the movie.
We walked out of the show around 7pm and headed around the corner to Amoeba. Oh...my...god. Amoeba was amazing. For someone like myself, it was heaven. I mean, the largest selection of music I could never find anywhere was right in front of me. Everything from CD's to vinyl to vintage posters to shirts to etc. filled this giant building. And that was just the first floor. The second level was all movies. I had a list coming in I made from Michigan of certain films and albums I was looking to purchase. I found the majority of them here. A lot of money was spent, but I didn't care. Who knows when I'm going to be back. Besides, a few gifts were found for some friends, Dear Zachary and TOKYO! were both bought after months of searching, and then there was the music. Oh, the music. I found a ton of stuff, but obviously couldn't get it all. I put down about 3 different things o' vinyl and a few posters. I'm having second thoughts on a few Dylan and Beatles show posters I didn't pick up. Hmmmm... Regardless, this store was fantastic and definitely involved me dropping a few bucks. Scratch that. It was amazing. I will be back. Oh, we ended up spending about 2+ hours inside. I could've spent a lot more. A LOT more.
As we walked up to the parking garage, shopping bag in hand, we both reflected on the day that was. Given it was so late, the building were the only thing lighting up the horizon. So, of course, it was primed from picture taking, which proceeded to happen. We finished up and that's when Gina stopped abruptly and called my name. I asked what was going on and she said to look. I turned my head and there it was. Plain as day. I honestly couldn't believe it...
A little backstory here. The other night we were talking about how Quentin Tarantino's new film was opening up via some midnight showings and what it may be like. One thing lead to another and the conversation turned to the car he drove. Gina said she had seen it on TV and asked if I ever had. I said no, so it was right to the computer and to Google images to see. I suggest you do that now. Go to Google images and type in "Quentin Tarantino car." What should pop up is an obnoxious, looking yellow Mustang with 2 black racing stripes down the back and multiple bumper stickers inspired by Death Proof. See it? Good. Now, back to reality.
I honestly couldn't believe it. An obnoxious, yellow Mustang with 2 black racing stripes down the back and multiple bumper stickers inspired by Death Proof. Given it was Hollywood, the opening night of Inglorious Bastards, and there were 2 amazing theaters below us, it was obvious he was there screening his movie with a live audience to gauge reaction. Probably snuck in after it had started, watching in the dark, and prepared to leave a little early so as not to be hassled. So...Tarantino, one of my directing idols, was a few hundred feet away in a theater we were in earlier...and we didn't know what to do. We thought about waiting for a bit to see if he showed up, but given he probably was in an 8pm show which wouldn't end until around 10:30, and it was only 9:30 now, that though left us fairly quick. I did take some pictures of my own of the car and we drove off. But...man. He was there. Right there. Oh, and by the way, I can't wait to see Inglorious Barstards when I get back. Haha.
The night ended with Del Taco and some Whale Wars. Tomorrow it looks like I'm meeting up with Tori and the parentals to visit some other family a ways away and helping finish up the apartment purchases. It's probably going to be the last time I see her until Christmas, too. Should be fun.
Quentin Tarantino was there,
B
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