DadJack.com Blog

Like to share our favorite things… Only people care when Oprah does it!  I haven’t been posting in awhile so I’ve slacked on sharing some cool sites and events, so here I go:

- This weekend it’s the Port of Los Angeles Lobster Fest!  This is the original Lobster Fest founded in 1999 by podcast friend Jim.  We have broadcast live on radio from this event, podcasted many shows and judged contests at this event over the years.  It’s always a great time… And where else can you get an amazing lobster meal for 19 bucks!?!?  They also take great care in booking stellar up and coming bands (and a few classics, like Teri Nunn and Berlin on Sunday!)  The kids and I will be popping in at some point this weekend to enjoy a family tradition.

- Now through October 31st (Halloween, duh!) you can enjoy the Halloween Harvest Festival at Pierce College!  This is another tradition in my family, I’m pretty sure Lucy and Bing have gone every fall of their lives so far (sometimes multiple times!) Not only can you buy a pumpkin grown right there at Pierce College by kids who will soon graduate and be unable to find jobs, but there are rides, food and (my kids favorite) The Spookley Show.   In the heart of the valley (Woodland Hills) it’s usually a nice place to visit in the early evening.

- I have always loved art, but never had the income to actually become a collector…  Except for in one of my favorite genres, street art…  Many times limited edition prints can be purchased for under $100, here are some of my favorite places to browse (I’ve been unemployed and unable to grow my collection, but I love to check in and see the latest cool prints): Obey Giant featuring the work of Shepard Fairey, Poster Child Prints which sells limited edition prints from many well known artists including Skullphone, Fairey, Tim Armstrong (From Rancid), Mark Mothersbaugh (From Devo), Curtis Kulig and many others,  1X Run which features limited runs of limited edition prints from known and upcoming artists.

-  My Sister mocks me because I care about this, but Klout measures your social media influence.  With social media growing more and more important to business everyday I believe Klout (or some site like it) will grow in importance… And it’s fun to check your score and see how you compare to your friends.  They also offer “influencers”  perks to try out new products and services and Tweet/Facebook about them.

-  Rocket Fizz is a cool retro soda/candy store where you can relive your youth and your kids can catch a really good sugar buzz… and the best part is they are opening a location a block from Porto’s in Burbank, which means you can have some potato balls and then chase them with a Faygo soda.  (there is another location down the street, the location near Porto’s is set to open at the end of this month.)

There you go, I know I’m no “You get a car! And you get a car!” Oprah, but those are some of the cool things I’ve come upon lately.

Rock on, Jack

To a new week.  As I mentioned the Lobster Fest was great, but things have gone a little down hill since then.  I guess Lucy is sick, I received a text this morning saying that she was achy, sore and had a 100 degree fever… Always makes you worry, but even more with all this swine flu stuff going around.  The Wi-Fi is still down in my apartment building, not to mention the hot tub is broken and only half full (which seems really dangerous to me, but they didn’t seem to care when I brought that up at the front office!?!?) and there are a bunch of other small problems… They just sold the building to a new company last week and the transition has been less than smooth!  And then there is the constant stress of not being able to find a job… Which has Stretch a little on edge too.  Anyway, enough of my complaining!

Did you watch the Emmy’s?  I watched about a hour, but tired of them and ended up re-watching Donnie Darko (Great movie!) I don’t know if it’s that I’m just not that into TV anymore, or if the show was just too slow paced and gimmicky (come on, visible control room with real “chatter” during the opening transitions and the multiple images on the screen at once… OK, you fooled me, the Emmy’s really are cool.)  In their attempt to be hip I think they have lost focus of the spirit of the awards… But I could be wrong, let me know what you think?

I went for a walk this morning, and I’ve been noticing it for the last month of so, but the city is dirty.  All the dust and dirt of summer has settled on the streets and sidewalks, months of sun baking it in.  We need a cleansing, for the skies to open and wash the city clean again.  There is a feeling in L.A. after a good rain storm, the sky extra blue, the streets rinsed… And the freeways cluttered with fender-benders.

You go naked grandpa!  Well it is football season.  Hoff in the hoffspital! Don’t take her back!  $400K stole from Bill.  Is this your kid?  A good day at the park for this kid.  Coyote ugly.  You are not a stuntman!  Double agent bad guy.

Rock On, Jack