Living in Los Angeles

Beautiful Paris

2009-10-04T10:56:00.000-07:00

Today I went to a restaurant with my friends Joanne, Flo and Thibault to have a brunch.

It was great! I loved the place, there was a live jazz band and it was good and not too expensive (24€).

I had been told about that place a long time ago by a friend and I recommend it: Le réservoir

Unfortunately, we had a table close to the stage and the music was a little too loud to hear each other very well. But when the singer was done, it was ok.

Then, we had a walk with Thibault to digest all that food (it's a buffet). We went from Place de la Bastille to l'île de la Cité through l'île Saint Louis.

It was very enjoyable, the sun was warm and it reminded me of that nice end of summer we had here in Paris. Because I remember when I came back from Los Angeles at the beginning of September, it was raining and so cold! I thought summer was definitively over here!

Anyway, I don't know what it is but we saw big eyes on some of the bridges and big pictures on the walls along the Seine. It was very strange at first but kind of nice...

And just so you know, I took the pictures with my new iPhone ;). It worked: I was able to terminate my previous phone contract and get my so desired phone!

------------------------------------------------------Big eyes on the bridge...

Is Ken gay?

2009-10-02T10:17:00.000-07:00

My boyfriend just bought a doll: It's a Ken...

He had one before, an old one, and he bought the new one for the clothes because he had to make it look like an Artistic Director for a school project...

I came home and he was cursing at it:

"the texture is cheaper than the old one, it's stiffer..."

I was already laughing, but that wasn't it!

He had to change the color of its tie (the doll was wearing a suit): it was pink!!

It had a sleeveless shirt and pants made in an awful synthetic fabric, orthopedic shoes and a jacket with cheap buttons that fell immediately...

Moreover, the new Ken is smaller, but has bigger feet than the former one, so now the old one looks like it's gay with the new one's clothes (the shirt is super tight), but has shoes too big for it.

It's ridiculous! But it was sooo funny :D

The new Ken, naked

IPhone

2009-09-23T00:42:00.000-07:00

Why does it seem that everyone has an IPhone but me?

I feel trapped. I want badly one but I have still one year to go with my contract and if I terminate it now, it will cost me around 100€. Now I realise it's not that much and that it would still be less expensive to do that and have a new IPhone with a new contract than to just buy one for 600€... But it used to be more expensive a few months ago...

The thing is, I broke my former phone last February and now I have an incredibly old one that don't even have a color screen... or a camera!

My great phone

So now everytime I see something great in Paris I wanna share with you, like a beautiful sunset on Place de la Concorde or an amazing contemporary building, which is not that common in here, I think: "Damn I wish I had not lost my camera and I had an IPhone!"

Last week, I sent a letter to the phone company to tell them I was no longer using my phone anymore in order to terminate the contract without any breaking fees. If this works, I will be able to get an IPhone for a reasonable price.

But in the meantime, if you think you're missing something in this blog because of my not having an IPhone, of course you are more than welcome to help me. I will accept any form of donation!

D&G new commercial

2009-09-16T16:32:00.000-07:00

The first time I saw this commercial on the back cover of a magazine, I went crazy! OMG, so much beauty and perfection on only one page! They could have had one of them it would have been great, but they had all of them: Claudia Schiffer, Naomi Campbell, Eva Herzigova, Fernando Fernandes, Noah Mills AND Tyson Ballou... That's it? No guest star?!?
Then the first thing that hit me was: "I'm wondering how much this marketing campaign has cost...". I know, I'm so materialistic... Later,I saw that they had also made a TV commercial, which must have cost even more...

But after a second thought, maybe it hasn't cost too much: the girls are not the latest most wanted models and the guys are not the most famous one either...
Let's imagine how this could have been more expensive: Gisele Bündchen, Heidi Klum, David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo...?

Any other ideas?

Fireworks

2009-09-14T10:06:00.000-07:00

Last week-end, the biggest firework in Europe was shot in the Parc de Saint Cloud near Paris. They advertised a lot for it so when I got back from Los Angeles I thought it could be a very nice evening.
I told Lionel to buy tickets to go: it was going to be my birthday present. Unfortunately, the event was sold out... :( I was really pissed about that so I decided to go anyway and see if we could buy tickets at the gate.
Many many people, a few without tickets, and NO ONE selling any tickets! What a shame! After 20 minutes, I see a small kid going to a group of people coming and asking them if they were selling any tickets, and they were! I ran to them, thinking I would be very upset to be defeated by a kid who is just not as shy as I am! Thank God they had more spare tickets and as all the other free-ticket persons were coming as scavengers on a rotting carcass, I was able to buy us 2 tickets for the show!

And what a show!
Past the fact that we had to stand up for 2 hours because people wouldn't sit down, it was the best firework in my life. We had a little picnic with white wine before the show, then it started. First, an hour wih a musician playing piano in the smoke..., regular fireworks.
Then, 1h15 of amazing, incredible, unique, huge fireworks! Colors I had never seen: orange, mint blue, dark yellow... Shapes I couldn't believe: triangles, stars, hearts!!
And even with 2 small parachutes linked by a string, making illuminated smiles in the sky!

It was an awesome night!

Sorry, I didn't take any picture as I still haven't buy a new camera... (I lost the one I bought 2 months ago...) Just so you're not too frustrated:

Last Day in LA

2009-09-01T08:37:00.000-07:00

Today is my last day in Los Angeles. Everything happened so fast I didn't realise it was coming.

Actually, yesterday I found out that my landlord thought I was leaving the house today when he reminded that my contract ended yesterday at 12:00am and that I had to pack and clean everything by that time. That meant that I had to find a place to stay for tonight, and make tons of clothes and shoes fit in my suitcase (that would have happened anyway...). And that's not easy, especially for me who hate packing if I'm not leaving right away after.

But I won't have time to be bored today. Matthew is taking me to the Glendale Galleria to go to the Ruehl store (is that a good idea considering that I do know that my suitcase is already too full...?), I'm going to a few friend's houses to say goodbye, I have to remember to take my car back before 6pm (I could forget... I know myself), I'm still considering buying an Apple laptop here (is that reasonable considering what happened to my camera? I lost it 3 weeks after I bought it...)...

Good part is, I get to see my boyfriend and my friends again!

How to be a good matchmaker host

2009-08-31T01:37:00.001-07:00

I was at Teryl's birthday party last Saturday, enjoying my time, talking to new people, petting the dog (that was also his 10th birthday by the way...)...

I spoke with that woman who was really urging me on going to South-East Asia for the next two months, who taught me about chakras in general and mine in particular, and how she could see other people's energies. She was so into it she even broke a glass while teaching me all those things. That was really interesting though.

But that's not the point. I started to get hungry so I headed for the food and I saw those little napkins on the table...

One really tries to make your life easier. No need to find a piece of paper now to write your number on it, just take a napkin and say your name, your star sign (!), your favorite music, what you like and what you are expecting: a coffee with your new target, or directly heading to the bathroom (!!). It's that simple.

I can totally see myself saying to a guy: "You have guacamole on the corner of your mouth, please use this napkin to clean that up. You can keep the napkin".

But there is yet room for improvement as I don't carry any pen with me... It would be a shame to miss a date because you couln't write your number on that napkin...

The Getty Villa

2009-08-30T11:23:00.000-07:00

I finally went to the Getty Villa! This is something I really wanted to do before I leave because when I came here 3 years ago, the Villa was closed for renovation, so I couldn't see it.

The Getty Villa has been built in 1968 to recreate a first-century Roman country house, the Villa dei Papiri, and is a museum dedicated to the study of the arts and cultures of ancient Greece, Rome, and Etruria. Another museum is part of the Getty Foundation, the Getty Center. I had already been there: it houses European and American art in a incredibly beautiful contemporary building on the top of a hill with a breathtaking view of the city of Los Angeles.

To visit the Villa, you need to make a reservation on the Internet and come at a specific time. They tell you it's free but you kinda need to take your car to get there and there is a $15 fee for parking...
So here we are, Efren, Orlando, Matthew and I, euh... wait, no Efren was sick so he couldn't come and Orlando had actually friends visiting and he had to pick them up at the airport... so I guess it's only Matthew and I! There is a very nice view of the ocean once you climbed all these stairs to the Villa. Ok, we took the elevator, but at least 3 of them to get there!

I have my old camera with me (yes, if you don't know, I lost my brand new 3-week old camera at a pool party 2 weeks ago...) and it takes good photos sometimes, pretty bad sometimes, or from time to time, very interesting ones. As usual when I'm in a museum I run hysterically everywhere and I keep laughing (I exaggerate a little but not that much... Matt can tell). The Villa is very beautiful, the weather too, and the Greek Gods sculptures as well!

In the afternoon, we decide to have a little happy hour on the Malibu pier, close by, which has just been renovated too. I'm impressed by the waves here when only a few miles south in Santa Monica, they are not that big. The pier is smaller than I expected but there are two nice restaurants where you can eat or have a drink. We're lucky the sun is still there because as soon as it hides behind the hills, it gets chilly and windy here.

Enough talking, please enjoy the pictures!

The view from the Getty Villa on the ocean -------------------------------The Villa-------------è------

Inside the Villa

Sculpture ----------------------------------------------Caught!------------

Sometimes my camera takes good photos...

At the Malibu Pier -------------------------------------The Malibu Pier -------

----------------------------------------------(my camera did the filter...don't know how though!)

Matthew and I on the Malibu Pier

What would I do for a living (room)?

2009-08-28T11:14:00.000-07:00

Everyday I receive a newsletter in my mailbox from this website: Curbed LA. It's a blog about the Los Angeles neighborhoods and real estate. Sometimes it's not interesting, but last Wednesday, a small article struck me: it was about a new 5-unit project developped on San Vicente Boulevard in West Hollywood. The pictures looked nice so I decided to go see it by myself.

Three weeks ago, my friend Efren and I had already gone to visit new condos on Santa Monica Boulevard (901 Hancock Avenue, WeHo), but it turned out they were not that great and rather overpriced. Yes there was a common swimming pool, yes there was a nice fountain, but that was it! Who would pay nearly $1 million to get a 1,000 sqft (around 100 m2) and have a carwash by the window, one of the busiest/noisiest street in front of the unit, a view of the A/C units on the top of the next building, a giant commercial for Aussiebum right accross the street (ok the ad was nice to look at, but what if they change it for an ad about an hemorrhoid ointment?) and on top of that would have to pay monthly charges of $600 for a 3,5 feet-deep pool (1m)?

Not me!

But the project I visited with Efren yesterday, The Vue, was quite more interesting. Located at the 912 on San Vicente Boulevard in West Hollywood, this 5-unit development features a much better view (at least from the living areas), is much less noisy (you actually can open the window and rest on the balcony), is bigger (around 1,800 sqft or 170m2) and is hardly more expensive: $1.2 million... The only flaw I can see now is the fact that it's a totally vertical unit: 5 floors, only stairs! You don't wanna break your leg while living there...

2 bedrooms and a bathroom on the first floor, a master bedroom including a private bathroom on the 2nd floor, kitchen, living room and mezzanine on the 3rd and 4th floors and a private rooftop deck on the 5th floor, waiting for the jacuzzi! Better to take a look at the pictures:

The building----------------------------------------------------- Entrance

1st floor bedroom -----------------------------------1st floor bathroom

Master bedroom --------------------------------------View from the master bedroom

Master bedroom's bathroom-------------------------------------Living room----------

View from the living room on the Pacific Design Center------------------- Kitchen-------------------

Mezzanine------------------------------------------------- Rooftop deck

I literally fell in love with this condo... Who wants to help me buy it? ;)

D-9 before what ?

2009-08-24T23:02:00.000-07:00

It's been a few days since I have been thinking that I'm going to go back soon to France and I'm torn. I have the same feelings than when I left Montreal, Canada or Rabat, Morocco. The feeling that I haven't visited all the places I wanted to visit, that I'm sad to leave but happy to go back home. In top of that, this time, I'm even more happy to be with my boyfriend again, but also more feared of what I'm gonna do.

My first thought when I took this 4-month leave was to spent 2 months in Los Angeles and then 2 months in Asia. At some point during my stay here, I realised that I didn't really want to go to Asia alone and that I would just come back to Los Angeles where I'm having so much fun. Now I have also realised that I just can't go on and on doing nothing; thus the idea to go back to Paris and stay there. I just have to figure out what to do for.

So now I'm basically trying to do as much as I can during each day so I can do all the things I want to do. I am literally running out of time !!

I won't let you go without a little picture... I went to the hairdresser today (again...I've been 3 weeks ago !), so I thought it could deserve a picture ;)

------------------Me...

Stephen Schwartz - Ford Amphitheatre

2009-08-23T22:53:00.000-07:00

To end yet another great week-end and a cool Sunday Funday summer afternoon in Los Angeles, my friend David invited me to go with him to the Ford Amphitheatre to see and listen to Stephen Schwartz productions. It is in the Hollywood Hills, just next to the famous Hollywood Bowl. It's the first time I go in that kind of outdoor concert place and I must say I liked it. Having a little breathe while listening to great music and watching beautiful people on the stage with a full of tree, palmy background is very enjoyable! Though it was a little ackward when a helicopter just flew over the amphitheatre in a noisy way...
Anyway the singers were really good and it is also the first time I am at a concert and I can have a glass of wine: we had a little wine and cheese (people here can bring their own food, and they do), lovely! Even though we drank the wine in big red plastic glasses, which is not very fancy... but that's ok, the evening was rather casual.

Of course I would have loved taking pictures of the show for you, but my camera was out of battery and my phone still doesn't take pictures... So for you, yes, you're welcome, my pleasure, I found one on the Internet so you can have a little glimpse of what it looks like.

Ford Amphitheatre

The Grove - outdoor mall in Los Angeles

2009-08-21T17:26:00.000-07:00

After a quick work out at the gym this morning with John, we decided to go to the movies at The Grove. The Grove is an outdoor mall in Los Angeles at the corner of Fairfax avenue, Beverly Boulevard and Third Avenue.

Going to that kind of a mall here is a whole experience. I can remember the first time I went there, it was in the evening and I thought it looked exactly like Disneyland ! Big stores are aligned along a large pedestrian street where a trolley can ride you around, big fountains, jazz music, lots of restaurants with nice outdoor tables... I've got to say that shopping have now reached a new level of greatness to me.

That being said, we wandered around a little, went to the inevitable Abercrombie store still featuring f*** good looking model at the entrance, tried the new 1969 GAP jean's collection and had lunch at a fancy italian ristorante where the waiter kept using italian words to raise his tip ;)

We then saw the movie District 9, which was interesting in the way that it deals with a story involving humans and aliens in a new angle that I hadn't seen before.

Here are some pictures of the Grove:

----------------------------Pedestrian street -------------------------------John and I

---------Fountain-------------------------------------- How fancy is that parking !?

The trolley (in the back) ----------------------Me at the restaurant-----

-------A&F---------------------------------------- Me in front of the fountain-----

House's facades - Mulholland Drive

2009-08-03T13:26:00.001-07:00

House's facades - Mulholland Drive

I took a drive on Mulholland Drive last week, trying to find some nice houses there.

It is a windy road up on the mountains north of Los Angeles, with an incredible view of the valley and of course, some nice properties.

This road is also a good spot to see the famous Hollywood sign.

I especially like the gate in the 5th picture, which fits perfectly with the house's shape.

3Oh!3 - Don't Trust Me

2009-08-03T11:31:00.000-07:00

I didn't know about them so I share this with you because I like it.

Playlist by Abercrombie & Fitch

2009-08-03T11:04:00.000-07:00

Since I have known about this brand and the fact that they are making a playlist (monthly ?) for their stores, I regularly go on their website to check the last one. They usually release each time a dozen of songs.

I love their happy kind of music, remixes... A&F Playlist

Hollister

2009-07-29T20:39:00.000-07:00

Hollister

Today I went to this store Lionel told me about: Hollister.
I've got to say it's exactly the same as Abercrombie & Fitch, less the perfume in stores and the overpricing. Loud music, dark environment, bright-color polos and shirts, destroyed jeans, hot models photos... I could go on and on on the similarities.
And with good reason: Hollister is a brand by A&F !
So my thoughts are: it's a great store, it's a not too expensive way to wear cool and relax clothes, but there's still one flaw for me, it's just not A&F.

Ok ok, I'm a brand-addict. I know it and I accept it ! Or maybe I'm just not in Hollister's target market anymore...

Downgraded

2009-07-29T19:28:00.000-07:00

Nobody likes to be downgraded...
Unfortunately that's what has just happened to me :(
Ok, I knew I was likely to have to give back my awesome car, but I was thinking that maybe I would keep it for my whole stay in LA !
Well no, I am now driving a no-central-locking-no-power-windows-no-bass-sound-system-that-stincks car... Even the engine seems to be similar to the one of a lawnmower !
At least I have air conditionning ! This is necessary !

Dodge Neon

But guess what: I am still two categories above the one I am paying for... So what's next ?
Will I actually drive the lawnmower ???!!

Bergamot Station - Santa Monica

2009-07-28T18:01:00.000-07:00

Bergamot Station

I visited the Bergamot Station in Santa Monica the other day. It's a former trolley station that has been converted into a site gathering art galleries 15 years ago. Thus it's easy for anyone to wander around and have a look at each of these galleries in the same place.
My two favorites were at the Craig Krug Gallery: Julius Shulman & Juergen Nogai and at the William Turner Gallery: Greg Miller.

The Santa Monica Museum of Art is also located at the Bergamot Station but I didn't visit it...

Photos:
The site
Some strange car belonging to the Santa Monica Museum of Art ?
Greg Miller at the William Turner Gallery

Far East Movement - Girls On The Dance Floor

2009-07-28T17:27:00.000-07:00

I really like this one. I didnt' know about this group before, Far East Movement, but since I'm hearing it all the time in my car, I guess they are pretty famous here.
I like its groovy sounds, plus it reminds me of an other song but I can't figure out which one ! Maybe you can help me on this... ;)
Enjoy !

House's facade - Beverly Hills

2009-07-27T13:01:00.001-07:00

Beverly Hills is a very green neighborhood. It's actually a real city surrounded by the city of Los Angeles. As soon as you get into it, you know it. The landscape radically changes to become greener and cosier.

I took a drive on the hills to glance at the houses there. All big, but well hidden also. I managed to get some interesting photos but I'm sure I missed some nice houses.

And when you hear that there are actually more house employees than residents in Beverly Hills, I guess it's true as the only human beings I happened to see there were gardeners, and not a few...

So You Think You Can Dance ?

2009-07-27T12:07:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends,

I want to talk to you about a TV show here named "So You Think You Can Dance ?". A friend of mine told me about it and we watched the last week epidoses. It's like American Idol (or our Star Academy) except that it's only about dancing. And I've got to say that dancers in the show are really good.
You can see what I mean on this season 5 preview:

I also want to make a special mention to the host, Cat deeley, who I think is very hot (she used to be a model), except when she dresses like a sack of potatoes...

-----------------------------------Don't you think this one is just awful ?

It's already been the 5th season here but you can now watch it on Virgin 17, since June 22th, 2009. It's the season 3, translated as "Tu crois que tu sais danser ?" ...

Renegade Craft Fair

2009-07-25T00:07:00.000-07:00

The Renegade Craft Fair

My cousin took me at this fair hold in the California Market Center, downtown LA. That was truly impressive to see all those people selling their handmade products. There were so many of them, with so much imagination and creativity. That reminded me of how Americans seem to be much more involved in entrepreneurship than we are. For some of them, it's a good way to have resources in case they loose their job; we all know that it can happen so fast here and one would be left with almost nothing... But it's also a way to practice a hobby for others! Anyway, I say "bravo" to all those people who care for a better world and who are brave enough to make their ideas come true!

Photo in the middle: she was my favorite. She kept making "machine noises" into a mike to attract people to her and sell them postcards through that machine! So creative!

Victoria's secret's Dream Angels Heavenly

2009-07-24T18:13:00.000-07:00

Victoria's secret's Dream Angels Heavenly

I just fell in love with this perfume: Heavenly of Victoria's secret. I was at the gym working out and I passed that nice woman who smelt so good! No wonder why it's the America #1 fragrance (according to Victoria's secret).

House's facades - Santa Monica

2009-07-24T14:20:00.001-07:00

Santa Monica house's facades

Those are some of the photos I took while living in Santa Monica.
The first row shows houses from the beach front, stucked between the sand on one side and the freeway n the other side...
In the second row, I particularly like the middle one with the garage that looks like a painting.
I let you appreciate the other pictures by yourself; feel free to leave comments about them!

Dr Hollywood (feat. Ya Boy) - We run LA

2009-07-24T14:20:00.000-07:00

Another song that is on air all the time... Read the lyrics, there is nothing else to add ;)

one for the money
two for the show
hit the louis store right on rodeo
white SL the color of yayo
pass the cup to my girl but told her to sip slow
this my show watch me baby
the way i go can't stop me baby
seat belt beside me baby
LA just drive me crazy
we could float thru the city night
i'm drunk and you lookin real pretty right
make love, i ain't finna fight
not once we can go til we get it right
with the cars that can fit the price
got a house in the hills
you can spend the night, and when they ask who turned you out...
she came from overseas, to be a star on the boulevard
she wants sex on the beach
we can share, its only fair
i got paradise on call, its ours, its ours
she got a little taste and she wants more, some more
we run LA
yeah
cut a lotta girls, cut a lotta checks
thats the life here on sunset
rich and famous i am success
better act late doin she do love sex
ima sip this you do the rest
you know what you do, you do the best
do me a favor lose the dress
its nice by the way chanel, i guess
LAMB handbags, dunno where they sell those
maybe later on we can hit melrose
all you gotta do is hit me on my cell phone
baby girl me and you can kick it like a field goal
u know who i be call me YB
red carpet don't need the ID
cause on my face you don't see what i see
you know where i be hollywood swinging
she came from overseas, to be a star on the boulevard
she wants sex on the beach
we can share its only fair
i got paradise on call, its ours, its ours
she got a little taste and she wants more, some more
we run LA

My Citrus house

2009-07-23T14:33:00.000-07:00

I am enjoying my new place in Los Angeles (it's in Hollywood, close to West Hollywood). I want to share those photos with you so you get to know where I live now.

I live here with two other roomates (one is from Ohio, Matt, and the other one is from Tenessee, Cody).

Garage (that's my car)

Entrance

Living room

Kitchen

My bedroom

Store on Roberston: H-L-N-R

2009-07-22T19:47:00.000-07:00

H-L-N-R

I was on Robertson yesterday, still exploring the "Avenues of Art & Design" neighborhood, when I saw this store. I had to have a look at it, all the more so as both the clerks were kind of cute. The store was very nice and well but I didn't know at that time that part of the attraction was.... the bathroom! Have a look at this.

It also appears that this store is "one of the world’s first eco-concept retailers".

If you want to understand why H.Lorenzo has chosen this place, you can read this.
(H-L-N-R stands for H.Lorenzo North Robertson)

Random pics - Smart cars

2009-07-22T13:46:00.000-07:00

Smart car

So they are selling those cars in the US now... I managed to take one in photo, but that's not the only one in Los Angeles!
Though it doesn't appear to be as interessant here as it is in Paris (not made for freeways, not totally automated, parking is not an issue in LA...), this car is very different from the others and that may well be enough to buy it.
Don't hesitate to post comments on that car, wherever you are from!

House's facades - Eagle Rock

2009-07-22T13:02:00.000-07:00

Eagle rock house's facades

Here are some of the house's facades I could see while staying at my cousin's place in the Eagle Rock neighborhood of Los Angeles.
I will give you regularly a look at the different house's facades I can have a glimpse at here and there.
My camera's ready!

Santa Monica & Venice Beach

2009-07-21T18:34:00.000-07:00

Santa Monica & Venice Beach

The beach in front of Santa Monica, Venice and Marina Del Rey is large, pleasant, and appreciated by a lot of people. A sidewalk and a cycle path go from Santa Monica to very far to the South.
Last Sunday, I went for a bike-ride there between Santa Monica and Venice beach and through the famous pier of Santa Monica in the middle.
The boardwalk in Venice beach is full of artists of any kind, showing their art to people.

Santa Monica beach with the city
Santa Monica cycle path
Me on the Santa Monica cycle path
Venice
Venice beach boardwalk
Entertainers

Le Pain Quotidien

2009-07-20T22:52:00.000-07:00

Le Pain Quotidien

I knew this boulangerie / patisserie from France, where you can have awesome brunches. But I didn't know they were also in the USA. And it turns out the city with the most Pain Quotidien (a.k.a. PQ) in the US is Los Angeles...
So Angelinos, fan of PQ ? I will have to test their brunches in order to find out !

Melrose Avenue - Avenues of Art & Design

2009-07-20T22:08:00.000-07:00

Melrose Avenue - Avenues of Art & Design

There is a neigborhood in West Hollywood called Avenues of Art & Design. I have walked along Melrose Avenue to get the feeling of this neighborhood. The photos above are a sample of what you can find on that street.
Fancy stores and galleries about fashion, interior design, furniture, the decorative arts, food and spirits... You will also find the famous Pacific Design Center, "the West Coast's leading resource for fine traditional and contemporary contract and residential furniture and design needs".

Main streets to be a part of Avenues of Art & Design are Melrose Avenue, Beverly Boulevard and North Robertson Boulevard.

I will explore for you Beverly Boulevard and North Robertson Boulevard.

Paparazzi by Lady Gaga

2009-07-20T19:02:00.000-07:00

Hello guys,

I wanna share with you this videoclip of Lady Gaga because Lionel and I love this song. The video is filled with references to the cinema.
Graphic wise, we think it's perfect!
A friend of mine told me that she used to perform on club's stages in Los Angeles only a year ago, and look how famous she became today... She is going to be remembered.

Enjoy!

Random pics - The First Green Gas Station

2009-07-19T18:03:00.000-07:00

Even gas station are designed here... Love it!

Actually, this is the first green gas station. Listen to one of its green team member's interview:

I Gotta Feelin' by the BlackEyedPeas

2009-07-19T17:43:00.000-07:00

I keep hearing this song from their new album here in Los Angeles. Everytime I take my car, I hear it at least two or three times! But I don't mind cause I really like it!
I gotta feeling !

Installation : jour 10

2009-07-18T15:33:00.000-07:00

Ca y est! Ca va faire une dizaine de jours que je suis arrivé à Los Angeles et je viens de me trouver ma maison pour les7 prochaines semaines...
Pour ceux qui veulent voir où c'est, suivez le lien.
Je mettrai quelques photos dès que possible!

Installation : jour 4

2009-07-16T22:32:00.000-07:00

Ca y est, je quitte la maison de Juliette et Michael pour ma "beach house" de Santa Monica. Je vais y rester au moins une semaine. Mais avant, il est temps de recuperer (enfin!!) ma voiture.

Et oui, voila ce qu'on peut avoir ici pour $6.99 par jour...!

Voici aussi quelques photos de mon nouveau logement temporaire, près de la plage :

De l'exterieur
Bureau dans l'appartement du RDC
Ma chambre dans l'appartement du RDC
Salon dans l'appartement du 1er
Salle à manger dans l'appartement du 1er
Cuisine et terrasse dans l'appartement du 1er

Installation : jour 3

2009-07-15T19:51:00.000-07:00

Aujourd'hui, c'est samedi. Tout le monde est de sortie. Et surtout moi, puisque je dois visiter deux maisons. La première se trouve à Santa Monica, pas loin de l'océan. C'est celle de Bret. Je dois y aller rapidement car il part à midi et ce n'est pas la porte à côté.

Une heure plus tard, je suis chez Bret, qui me fait le tour du propriétaire :

"Voilà le bureau de Brad, son Mac que tu peux utiliser pour aller sur Internet, la chambre d'ami où tu dormiras et ta salle de bain". Ca, c'est au rez-de-chaussé, un appartement en soit.

Au premier maintenant, la même forme d'appartement :

"Ici c'est notre chambre, le salon avec la télé, les DVDs que tu peux regarder, la salle à manger et la cuisine. Tu as aussi un barbecue au gaz et une terrasse en bois que j'ai faite moi-même (!) et qu'on partage avec les voisins. Voici les clés, je rentre la semaine prochaine".

Voilà, je sais où loger pour la semaine. Je vous en dirai plus sur Bret quand nous aurons eu l'opportunité de faire plus ample connaissance la semaine prochaine...

Third promenade

Après un petit tour sur "Third Promenade" à Santa Monica (bah oui, il faut quand même amortir le déplacement!), je m'en retourne vers Hollywood pour visiter la chambre que me proposent

Jason et Fred. Ils préparent leur maison pour la "pool party" qu'ils organisent demain au profit du "gay & lesbian community center". Leur maison n'est pas très grande, mais incroyablement décorée. Ecrans géants dans le salon et la chambre, têtes d'animaux (fausses) accrochées au mur, "double-douche" (qu'on me dise ce qu'on y fait...), frigo avec porte à moitié transparente, une piscine sur la moitié du jardin... Cela dit, je me dois de refuser, je ne suis pas sur de m'y sentir à l'aise... dommage!

Fin de journée dans les bars : je rencontre Mark, croisé par hasard sur craigslist, Tom qui avait une chambre à proposer il y a deux semaines, mais qui ne l'a plus... et Broeck nous rejoins en soirée pour une tournée des bars. Plutôt sympa!

Installation : jour 2

2009-07-14T09:46:00.000-07:00

Ma cousine Juliette me prête sa voiture pour la journée. C'est le moment d'aller acheter ce qu'il me manque et dont j'ai désespérément besoin : un téléphone et un adaptateur pour prises françaises (et oui, mon téléphone est un bi-bande et il ne marche pas ici...). Je l'emmène donc au bureau à 8h30 puis, sans trop réfléchir, je me dirige chez BestBuy pour mes achats. Mais ici comme en France, à 8h30, c'est un peu fermé...

Qu'à cela ne tienne, je me fait l'aller-retour jusqu'à la maison, je fais un tour rapide de mes e-mails, j'appelle la location de voiture pour m'assurer que tout est ok pour samedi (et bien non! j'ai bien fait de rappeler, je ne l'aurai que dimanche) et je repars chez BestBuy.

Ca y est, j'ai un téléphone, mais pour l'adaptateur c'est une autre paire de manche. La partie s'annonce hardue (en effet, je trouve bien des adaptateurs, mais pour des produits américain en France et non le contraire...).

A midi, j'ai rendez vous avec Chase et Broeck pour déjeuner. Mais qui sont ces gens?

Explication rapide : en avril, je cherchais des maisons sur internet pour échanger avec mon appartement parisien. Je suis tombé sur cette magnifique maison, dont le propriétaire, Chase, souhaitait justement venir à Paris pour l'été. Je le contacte à tout hasard mais malheureusement il a déjà trouvé un appartement.

En juin, quand j'apprends que je vais venir à Los Angeles pour deux mois, je le contacte à nouveau pour lui demander des conseils sur les endroits sympas, pour rencontrer du monde... De là l'idée de se retrouver pour déjeuner avec un de ses amis, Broeck, qui connaît déjà tout le monde...

Broeck and I

Le déjeuner se passe très bien, j'ai même le droit à une visite guidée de West Hollywood où nous avons mangé, et je repars à la recherche de mon adaptateur, sur les conseils de Broeck, que je trouve!! Je vais enfin (!) pouvoir recharger mon ordinateur, mon appareil photo et mon rasoir éléctrique (le téléphone c'est plus la peine!).

L'après-midi n'est même pas terminée que Chase (qui part demain pour deux semaines en France) me donne le nom d'un de ses amis, Bret, qui peut me loger pour la semaine à Santa Monica. Je dois le contacter aussi vite que possible car lui aussi part demain midi...

Pendant ce temps, Broeck fait également le tour de ses connaissances pour voir si quelqu'un aurait une chambre à louer. Le soir-même, Jason et Fred me proposent de louer leur chambre d'ami à Hollywood.

Installation : jour 1

2009-07-13T21:11:00.000-07:00

Je suis arrivé hier en fin de journée et ma cousine, Juliette, qui vit à Los Angeles depuis 11 ans maintenant m'héberge le temps que je me trouve un logement. Elle vit du côté Nord de Los Angeles, près de Glendale.

Sa maison est construite dans le style années 60 et est située à flanc de colline avec une vue surplombant les alentours. Magnifique!

Elle est mariée avec Michael, un américain originaire du New Jersey, mais depuis longtemps aussi établi à Los Angeles. Ils travaillent tous les deux dans un cabinet d'architecte : Osborn

N'ayant pas encore de voiture à ma disposition, j'ai passé la journée sur craigslist. Craigslist est un site de petites annonces très utilisé outre-Atlantique. Appartements à louer, voitures à vendre, rencontres... On y trouve tout (et surtout n'importe quoi!).

1ère étape : Montréal

2009-07-13T14:23:00.000-07:00

Je suis parti le lundi 6 juillet 2009 de Paris vers Montréal. Pourquoi Montréal?

Deux raisons :1. J'ai vécu pendant 1 an à Montréal en 2005/2006 et j'avais très envie d'y retourner et d'en profiter pour rendre visite à quelques amis.

2. J'ai économisé près de 200€ en prenant deux billets d'avion séparés Paris - Montréal et Montréal - Los Angeles qu'en prenant directement un Paris - Los Angeles.

Une cousine par alliance, Myriam, m'a hébergé (elle avait déjà donné la fois précédente!) pour la première nuit et j'ai passé la seconde nuit chez Sébastien, un de mes amis rencontrés à Montréal il y a 3 ans et qui y est finalement resté!

La maison de Myriam

Pleins de bons souvenirs me sont revenus durant ces deux jours. J'ai parcouru à pied tous les endroits où j'avais l'habitude d'aller :

McGill Moi avec le perroquet Rue Ste Catherine Marché Bonsecours

-McGill (mon ancienne université)

-le coin Prince Arthur / Park (Le grand immeuble derrière moi est celui où j'habitais) où j'ai croisé un gars avec un perroquet...

-le Café Campus (boîte de nuit étudiante)

-le Village (quartier gay)

-La rue Sainte Catherine (piétonne en été depuis 3 ans)

-Le Vieux Montréal

-Le Marché Bonsecours

J'ai également pu (enfin!) profiter de tous les festivals qui existent durant l'été à Montréal (j'avais quitté Montréal avant le début de l'été lors de ma dernière venue). Je me suis rendu compte à ma grande suprise (et joie!), que tous le quartier des spectacles était rendu piéton pendant toute la période du festival de jazz, avec de grandes scènes montées un peu partout et des concerts gratuits tous les soirs.

Introduction

2009-07-13T13:57:00.000-07:00

Bonjour à tous!

Ce billet d'introduction est l'occasion pour moi de vous expliquer de quoi ce blog retourne. J'ai décidé en mai 2009 de venir passer les mois de juillet et août à Los Angeles.

Dans le but de garder contact et afin que vous puissiez me suivre au quotidien depuis la France (ou même ailleurs!), j'ai fait ce blog qui je l'espère, saura vous tenir informé et pourquoi pas, vous divertir!

I love you guys.

Greg