The Punk Museum at Taylor Junction, Joshua Tree, March 9, 2024. Photos by Monique A. LeBleu. Last month, the LA Beat’s own Tequila Mockingbird joined forces with graphic artist, Rolo Castillo, and AI artist and inventor, Phil Bosua, to bring “the past, present, and future of Punk” through the art of AI and the Punk Museum to the Taylor Junction Gallery in Joshua Tree. According to Mockingbird, she, Castillo and Bosua–the latter two as The AKA–, together provided the art for the exhibit that represents the past, present and future of Punk through the art of AI. Beginning the evening’s vibe wa ..read more

image Sparrow Italia at Hotel Figueroa. Photo credit: Noble 33. Though currently celebrating its 97th birthday, the Hotel Figueroa is as newsworthy as ever. Earlier this year, Food & Wine bestowed high praise on this DTLA boutique hotel when it appeared on two of their Global Tastemakers lists: The 10 Best Hotel Bars in the U.S. and The 15 Best Hotels for Food in the U.S.  Opened in 1926 as a sanctuary for female travelers, who were then prohibited from checking into most hotels unless accompanied by a male chaperon, the Hotel Figueroa has long been a place where feminine creat ..read more

Get an early start on Dia de Los Muertos season this weekend when an exhibition of 25 Catrina costumes comes to El Pueblo de Los Angeles for just three days.  Starting today, October 6, and running through Sunday, October 8, “Siempre en mi Corazón” (“always in my heart”) was created by Lily Martinez. A native Angeleno who embraces her Mexican culture and finds great inspiration in Catrina, Martinez was a longtime Creative Director for Barbie.  Over the years, Lily painstakingly created more than two dozen striking Catrina costumes, including one intricate costume inspired by Tequila ..read more

Costumes from Polyester. John Waters: Pope of Trash at the Academy Museum. Photo by Elise Thompson. On September 17, The Academy Museum opened a first-of-its-kind exhibition honoring the films of underground filmmaker, author, art collector and iconoclast, John Waters. “Pope of Trash” runs through August 4, 2024. The ultimate outsider probably never expected to be honored by the Academy, which is about as insider as it gets, and right before he received the unrelated but well-deserved honor of a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Waters wanted a shocking beginning, so in keeping with the th ..read more

The Million Mrs. Roper Romp. Photo by Mike Guerena ..read more

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Pete Shelley, The Buzzcocks, Boston, November 1980. Photo by Michael Grecco. Set the date for Thursday, September 14, 2023, in Beverly Hills for two Los Angeles-based fine art photographers (and partners), Michael Grecco and Elizabeth Waterman, and their opening night receptions at the Leica Gallery LA in Beverly Hills. For those of you who remember my review of  Michael Grecco‘s “Punk, Post Punk, New Wave: Onstage, Backstage, In Your Face, 1978–1991,” you’ll remember his wonderfully candid portraits of punks and concert photos of many famous, iconic, and beloved punks in the semin ..read more

Burning Man 2023. Photo by Paul Koudounaris. Written by Paul Koudounaris Gosh Burning Man was fun . . . actually it was fine for me, I took off as soon as the rain started and got out before it was locked down, and here are some photos from two lovely days. As I was driving out the catastrophe was already unfolding, the ground was turning into quicksand and the road out was littered in cars that had already been stuck. As I passed them (thank you Jeep, thank you offroad tires) a man jumped out of a Mercedes that was stuck in the mud and started screaming at me and waving a handful of cash. H ..read more

The West Adams Block Party returns to the vital West Adams neighborhood this Sunday, September 3! This free (with RSVP) event goes for nine hours, with live musical performances, art installations, local businesses, food trucks, a job fair, and a kids’ zone featuring science, arts, and sports programming.  Confirmed performers include Grammy Award-winning hip hop group, Arrested Development, Grammy-nominated artist and Inglewood Native D Smoke, DJ Battlecat, Soulection & Friends featuring Arin Ray, Andres Uribe and special guest and a “hip hop legend” presented by Delicious Vin ..read more

Tiki Oasis 2023. Photo by Elise Thompson. Written by Dave Arnson The cult of Tiki is an intriguing one, one of disposable income and alcoholic hedonism coupled with an artfully fantastical version of a faux- Polynesian paradise. These elements all come together once a year (for over 20 years now) in San Diego at a brilliantly curated event, “Tiki Oasis.” Organized by the uber-suave power couple Otto Von Stroheim and Baby Doe, an entire hotel is booked out by rabid fans of retro Tiki culture. There are antique car shows, a massive vendor area, music around the swimming pool, amazing bands, an ..read more