The Ballroom Blitz!

Sunday October 21st
from 12-6pm ( or as late as we linger around)
The Ballroom Blitz: Downtown L.A.'s indie shopping bazaar
returns for a pre-Halloween shopping fiesta @
La Cita on" El Patio" -
I am seeking
independent crafters, record sellers, yard salers
artists, clothing designers/manufacturers, haberdashers
makers of delicious bath products ect...
to join the fray and sell their goods

"El Patio" is the newly re-opened re-vamped back porch of
Downtown hotspot on the rise "La Cita"
El Patio is a GORGEOUS
tiled patio with a covered dance floor and awnings
over the seating that surrounds the floor.

We have accommodations for racks and plenty of room
to rock,shop,sip and swap the day away.
Small tables and chairs are provided.
if you need a larger table you will need to provide it,

Vendor spaces are $15.00 and can be paid via
Pay Pal http://www.paypal.com
to
royalpain@fleurdelethal.com.
I will only have room for 13 vendors (15 at the MOST)

This is now a monthly event and in
December we will be setting up twice in HUGE digs
for holiday shopping madness.

** remember the 21st is the week before Halloween
so clothing vendors make the most of it !

Please contact me @ royalpain@fleurdelethal.com with any questions.

Puttin on The Blitz,
Nico Bella

Updates on what the hell I am am up to

Basically to be able to post about what is going on
in my world I have to break it down to each department...

• Burlesque/Performing
• Burlesque/Teaching
• The Angel City Drive In
• The Book Club: Nobody Reads In L.A.
• The Ballroom Blitz Indie Shopping Bazaar
  
• Art/Design/Curating
  
• Writing project "Exit to Hope"
  

There is a lot on the plate as of late.
I will give you the best FYI I can ....
lots of links for the click inclined

Meowza!-

What a few weeks it has been,
after a long summer break ( no,I wasn't in rehab)
it's time to get back to the
bump and grind of creating great events for my city.....
and Oh,have I ever!
Here are a few updates for my friends, fans and fiends
on my comings and go

1.)" You Show Girl" BURLESQUE CLASSES

After all the inquiries about new classes and the workshops
I decided it was time for me to drink a pot of coffee
get busy on the HTM-(hel)L and re-do the website...

http://www.youshowgirlburlesque.com

It runs on a blog format so just scroll through to find the information you need!
I added easy pay buttons where I could to make it

LOS ANGELES
NEW 10 Week CLASS--10/10 click here for the class info page

AUSTIN
2 workshops as part of the Texas Burlesque Festival click here for details

PORTLAND
Oct.27th..info T.B.A

Bella Beretta Performances:

SF-
Friday Night 10/5 I perform @ Tease-O-Rama
burlesque convention @ Bimbo's 365 in San Francisco!!
http://www.teaseorama.com
SO EXCITED!!

L.A.
For everyone who is interested in seeing a
Bella Beretta Brand Burlesque show
come to
3 Clubs this Monday 10/8
I will be presenting first time darlings,sexy veterans and
indeed..It is also
VANITY FLAIR'S BURLESQUE BACHELORETTE PARTY
So, of course we will be up to non stop SHE-nanigans.
3 Clubs

1123 Vine St.
(Vine at Santa Monica)
Los Angeles, CA 90038
Google map

it's fabulous,I'm fierce, it's free.
Show Starts at:10:30 pm.

AUSTIN
I will be performing in the Saturday Night Showdown @
The Texas Burlesque Festival
please visit them online for more info
http://www.texasburlesquefestival.com/

Alright dearies there is the news you can use on You Show Girl
and perhaps getting a glimpse of the elusive Miss Bella Beretta



Oct 13th-- Nobody Reads in L.A. Book Club meets for "Wild At Heart" @ Casey's
http://www.nobodyreadsinla.com
Oct.20th-- Angel City Drive In Presents"Evil Dead 1&2"
http:///angelcitydrivein.blogspot.com
Oct.21st-- The Ballroom Blitz Indie Shopping Bazaar @ La Cita
web site coming soon!
Oct.25th-- Nobody Reads in L.A. Book Club meets for "Wild At Heart"@ Red Rock
http://www.nobodyreadsinla.com
Nov. 3rd -Wild at Heart Screening w/ Barry Gifford
http://www.nobodyreadsinla.com
Nov.10th- Angel City Drive In Presents "The Big Lebowski"
http:///angelcitydrivein.blogspot.com
Nov.28th - Treasure Chest Burlesque debuts...more news to follow

I'm a Loner Dottie, A Rebel

This Saturday....
Ladies and Gents,
The first downtown drive in was such a success
( and so much fun!) that we have decided to
expand.
Now that I have joined wonder powers with Devils Night (http://www.devilsnight.com)
we have decided to rename our venture the "Angel City Drive In"
We feel this more closely reflects this gritty, pretty city we live in and love.


Our new site
www.angelcitydrivein.com
will be live very soon
til then join us on my space
( use it for something other than stalking ex's...it's awesome!)
http://www.myspace.com/angelcitydrivein

or join the RSS feed off our developing blog

angelcitydrivein.blogspot.com

Be sure to join us THIS SATURDAY for


Please dust off your bow ties and bicycles though and get ready for Sept. 8th.
we feature

Anyone on a bike and dressed as P.W. gets in for $5.00
walk ins and regular ride ins are $7.00
and yes...we decided to let cars back in, it was TOO FUN!
cars are 25.00 a carload and there is no limit on occupants.
All eras of cars are welcome- hwever the best parking spots go to the old rides.
there is limited space for cars so PLEASE R.S.V.P to
angelcitydrivein@gmail.com.

***As an added feature for the 2 wheel big rollers- we have a post movie 8 mile ride
scheduled through downtown post screening!

We will be adding a FM transmitter during the fall and winter months so


Coming this October.
October 18th--Downtown night out featuring "Trading Places"
this is a free screening for everyone downtown...

October 20th- EVIL DEAD 1&2!!!!!!!!!!

our new titles will be released soon but expect a great comedy
in November and a December title that will really "Shoot Your Eye Out!"

see you there!

XOXO-
Nico Bella
Angel City Drive In

Drive In Updates-- all the news you can use!

At last the vacant lots of downtown make for slightly wholesome fun on
Saturday nights!

"The Million Dollar Drive In" Downtown L.A.'s first "urban drive-in"
launches August 25th, 2007 with a double feature tribute to teenage
rebellion (and rock n' roll).
John Waters'"Hairspray" (1988) and "Crybaby"(1990)
We will be set up @
529 S. Spring LA,CA 90013

In keeping with being a true "urban" event this event is largely for
bike and foot traffic with the entire front half of the lot reserved
for walk-in and bike-in patrons.
Due to the retro nature of this hep double feature room will be made
for 15-20 cars.
However, they must be pre-1965!
For Walk-ins The Million Dollar Drive In is DIY,BYO,MIU (make it up!) seating
Attendees are encouraged to think thematically
and get creative with
their picnic sites.
Prizes will be awarded for best set ups!


Gates will open @ 7:30pm. Local DJ, DJ Morgan ( Bigfoot Lodge and Bar 107)
will be spinning tunes to warm up the crowd. As soon as the sun dips
in to the Pacific( 8:15 by the almanacs prediction) the films will start.

A beer garden and concessions stand will be provided by Charlie O' s.
The Alexandria's own in house watering hole and new downtown
"hotspot"will provide all the beer,wine popcorn,candy&soda patrons
need to complete their movie going experience.

Farmers Market favorite Eric Tatro and his stealth gourmet kitchen the
" Big Red Tomato" will be parked inside to delight heartier eaters
with pizza and Belgian style fries.

Local Burlesque vixens will be on foot to serve as your
"car & camp hops" so you don't miss a second of the movie ( unless
you're staring at them...I cannot help you there)

Admission:
$7.00 per walk in/Bike in ..
$25.00 per car load ( pre 1965 cars only/ No limit on occupants)

**RSVP is mandatory for cars since space is limited.

Presale Tickets Specials for 2 ( 10.00!) and 4 ( 20.00!) are
available online @ www.fleurdelethal.com
@ Charlie O's ( 501 S. Spring)

For more information on Fleur De Lethal please visit,
http://www.fleurdelethal.com
or check me out on Metromix this week!
http://losangeles.metromix.com/events

Join us 2 weeks later on Saturday Sept 8th, 2007
for a "car-less" event that is anything BUT pedestrian.
As Fleur de Lethal and Down in Downtown come together to
celebrate cycling in a city that bike paths forgot
with the ultimate cinema tribute to bike worship:
"Pee-Wee's Big Adventure"
This "Night of a 1000 Pee-Wee's" will feature look-a-like contests,
a "Tequila" sing along & dance-off and many more bike "geared"
activities.


Hope To See You There!-
Nico Bella

The Million Dollar Drive In

Saturday August 25th
Fleur De Lethal Presents
"The Million Dollar Drive In"
In the lot next to The Alexandria.

We celebrate the launch of this hoopla with a double feature
tribute to teenage rebellion (and rock n' roll).
John Waters
"Hairspray" ( the real one...yay Divine!)
and
"Crybaby"


Gates will open @ 7:30
and The film will roll at sunset!

A Beer Garden will be provided
by our friends @ Charlie O's
and a concessions stand will be on hand
with popcorn,candy& sodapop to enhance
your movie going experience.

Rumor is some "Dolls" on skates might
be present as your "carhop" servers...

At 7:30 til the sun goes down
local DJ's will be on hand to get the party started.
I think a group "Madison Time" dance off might be in order.


$7.00 per walk in/Bike in ..
this is a bring your own seating set up..
I encourage you to set up your own picnic areas..
think thematically!
get creative!
I will be awarding prizes for best set ups!

Due to the retro nature of this double feature I will
allow a few cars @ the rate of 25.00 a car load ( no limit on
occupants...heh...this could be fun!) and cars MUST be pre 1965 to
be admitted.
RSVP is manditory since space is limited.

Presale Tickets Specials for 2 (10.00!) and 4 ( 20.00!) are
available online and starting August 9th @ Charlie O's
Please contact me
( Nico Bella)
@ 213.325.0907
or via email :royalpain@... for details

More is being added every day.
visit www.fleurdelethal.com for updates.

And join us 2 weeks later on Saturday Sept 8th
for a "car-less" event that is anything BUT pedestrian.

We celebrate bicycling in a city that bike paths forgot with
the ultimate homage to bike worship
"Pee-Wee's Big Adventure"



I remain,
Nico Bella

On The Nickel: Art Walk @ Charlie O's

Hello Friends,Fiends and Fans,

This Thursday marks another Downtown Art Walk.
With the rise of the DASH shuttle and hundreds of new visitors coming in to Gallery Row
every month Art Walk has quickly become the most lively night in Downtown L.A.

Never one to miss out on a good party (or let's face it- even a bad party)-
Fleur De Lethal and Charlie O's
have assembled a wild night of art and entertainment for the post walk
set.

"On The Nickel:" a night of glitter in the gutter burlesque and music pays a visit to
the barflies,raindogs and mean streets of Los Angeles.
People,places and things that inspired authors like Bukowski and Fante
and musicians like the inimitable Tom Waits, Artists that documented and defined the landscape of the tarnished town- so far away from the tinsel of Hollywood

"Disc Jockey Full of Bourbon" will be manning the booth and playing
all the finest in circus punk, gypsy stomp and gutter waltzes ( tom waits, gogol bordello, firewater, nick cave, devotchka ect et all)

Local Art Star Emmeric James Konrad will be painting live scenes of the bar dwellers
and booth haunters that have held these bars together since long before the "kids started coming around" ( actual quote from a patron @ Charlie O's)

The Burlesque, hosted by Bella Beretta features performances by the gorgeous and talented Scarlett Letter, Vixen Magdalene and many more...
However The highlight of the night- is a not to be missed performance by Miss Viva Las Vegas 2007.
LA CHOLITA.

The first set @ 10:30 will be a brassy saucy homage to back alleys and cobble stones
and the bad girls( with even worse intentions) that hang out in and on them

The second set @ 11:30...we bust out the rhinestones and feathers in a nod to all the burlesque theaters that lined Spring and Main back in the very lively "day".

So get a map on-line @ www.downtownartwalk.com
go see the art, go buy art...come see the thriving nightlife of new downtown.
Then stroll over to Charlie O's for a gritty,pretty,bourbon soaked, glitter in the gutter night
"On The Nickel"

On The Nickel
Charlie O's
501 S.Spring
Los Angeles,
CA 90013
9pm- close
Performances @ 10:30 &11:30

I aim to please-but shoot to kill,

Nico Bella
www.fleurdelethal.com
213.325.0907

The Ballroom Blitz!- July 29th 2007

Fleur De Lethal Productions
in co-operation with
The Alexandria
is delighted to announce the launch of
"The Ballroom Blitz"
an indie swap meet and art mart in the historic
Palm Court Ballroom of The Alexandria

We will have DJs spinning under the Tiffany glass
ceiling and our in-building bar Charlie O's will open at 12pm, providing
deluxe Bloody Mary's and Mimosas to limber up your shopping tendencies!

Lost Souls Cafe will also be on site selling iced coffee and biscotti!

Our DJ's include:
Local Denziens-
-Kim Cooper of Scram and 1947project
-Jim Freek of Teenacide Records
-Greg Belson and Andy Cobb of The Hogwash Jump Joint @ Bordello
-Jason 71 Downtown Luminary & member of the band Eskimohunter
-DJ Alexander Lawrence-"Music is My Boyfriend" @ Bar 107 & Safari Sams
-Disc Jockey Full of Bourbon - "Raindogs and Bluebirds"

There will also be raffles every hour for gift certificates, goods and
goodies from swap-o-riffic vendors and downtown businesses. Raffle tickets
will sell for $1 with all proceeds going to support The National Night Out
on August 7th

The Ballroom Blitz launches
Sunday July 29th
The Alexandria (in The Palm Court off the main lobby)
501. S. Spring, Los Angeles, CA 90013

Doors open @ Noon and we will be
shoppin', swappin', sippin' and rockin' til 7pm!

For more information on The Ballroom Blitz or to book a table (just $10)
please contact event organizer Nico Bella
213.325.0907 or via email royalpain@fleurdelethal.com

Links
http://www.fleurdelethal.com
http://www.thealexandria.net

changing my ways...

I need to back off from some of my hard feelings
about some of the characters in the downtown.

I'm no longer their waitress...I'm a peer and if I expect them not to
act like little children ( even though some of them are 20+ years older than me )
I need to set the tone.
I've been harboring resentments to the point of ridiculousness
and it is not going to to get me anywhere.
It is not good business nor good manners.

Letting Go...lightening the grudge locker...need to travel light,walk softly
in this hard world.

Week: Observed...

So I watch everything...all the time, always listening, always taking in whatever the next
step might be able to be taken.
I was eavesdropping on all of you all the time @ Banquette- it gave me a lot of insight.
The thing you should know is "Opportunist" is not a
dirty word to me....I realized this week I need to be out there listening even more.

So here is a partial Week:Observed...

Tuesday I got to experience a DLANC ( neighborhood council ) meeting , I was thrilled to partake
in the free pizza and sodas and observe a few things.
****edited:
I have come criticisms of some of the things going on-
however I am going to quit bitching -
my petty grievances are just that...petty.
I want to be a vehicle for change.
All in all it was an "interesting" thing...
The best part of it was hanging out in The Palace...that is a pretty little room oh and free pink lemonade delights me
Still, the state of affairs with the council is a little unsure-
as an outside observer who has been watching all this stuff happen for 3 years now from cafe tables and behind the counter...seems like a whole bunch of the same.
I do believe in them though...I have to, this is my neighborhood.
I have hope in it going further...however, the nepotism is suspect.
but I'll shut up about it...I have work to do and the more I worry about others - the more I dilute my focus.
Went to The Redwood for a little Mickey Champion and then to the Where?house for some late night art and fun...Such crushes flourish in such late hours....like I even have time for crushes these days.

Wendsday: Oh what a day...we launched the book club.
20 people in the house!...I will pull from my other blog to tell you a story about Wed.:

" It was amazing to sit in a room with all of us sharing in the same thing...it reminded me that
a common passion and curiosity is all it takes to link people at times.
We walked to Pershing Square, marveled at the remnants and stared at blank spaces- looking for ghosted outlines of the losses..
I looked for Arturo and my other ghost Elizabeth around every corner,they lurk behind palms. Him hiding in the open space of Pershing Square,her little taps clicking down Olive, to The Crown Jewel,to oblivion....
A Little Dahlia Story for you ...
She haunts me even now ...last Wendsday I went to the new speakeasy after coming home from 3's. As I left the alley I drew up to the corner looking at the building I noticed the familiar paneling ...
I was around the corner from the front door of The Crown Jewel which is the last place she was seen alive..
I had my big white flower in my hair that night and I was in my standard black.
Knowing full on where I was simply terrified me a very white hot fear seared through me and I broke in to a run up 9th...just to get away...
I don"t think I'm her or anything....don"t think that. However, I have just spent so much time with her over the last year, in books and in my head- in photos, on canvases...her image repeating and repeating.
Elizabeth has become apart of me.
As I walk the streets with my white flowers in my hair...i open an invite for her to follow me..Sometimes, like that night I get terribly frightened that it will be taken as an invitation to harm.
So I ran..heels clicking..I ran away from it...sometimes the darkness that I asked in has the power to swallow me whole..
I return to This Wendsday night though...
I walked everyone back by The Alex and hopped on my bike and jetted up to Broadway to see
"Yankee Doodle Dandy" @ The Los Angeles.
What a lovely movie...sure it was a lot of grandstanding and flag waving but it was also a reminded of a time when being "An American" was something to be proud of...
It left me feeling a little inspired to work harder at fulfilling my deep wish that that feeling of solid patriotism can be felt again regarding this country in this lifetime..
Considering I came in to the world as Nixon was getting canned...
I have never in my life known what it is like to believe in my country or my president...

I wandered around the Los Angeles and took in a few of the snooty know it alls from the conservancy and that was a reminder that in my taking on the role of teaching, guiding ect...
to always be loving,informative and excited...
It is strange when you can see people's agenda hanging
on them as awkwardly as their vintage clothes.
I saw the prime example of that parading around last night...
I avoided being recognized because I didn't want to listen to a commercial.
I've never forgiven them for saying to ME "If you ever want a real emcee for your show"
Yeah...you just wait for that call.....
I love everything the conservancy does and what they stand for but why do some of them have to be so weird??
I shrugged off the oddities, unlocked the bike and went for a loop around Pershing Square up the ramps and to the wall of the Carey McWilliams quote
I got to the last panel as I was reading the last line a GIANT cockroach ran right underneath it, as if to emphasize and accent the impact of the final words
My "EW!" quickly turned to loud laughing.
My dirty pretty thing, my Los Angeles sent me a dare...If you love me, you will love my flaws...my giant roaches and rats that fall from palm trees, my bad traffic, poor air and everything...You will love me, and love my scars...Los Angeles dares you to love her-no wonder I love her so...

Here is the last panel..... read...


"...It suddenly occured to me that, in all the world, there neither was nor would ever be another place like this City of the Angels. Here the American people were erupting, like lava from a volcano; here, indeed, was the place for me--a ringside seat at the circus."

Carey McWilliams


I got on my bike and rode in loops around the perimeter of the fountain...I went to leave and realized I hadn't really looked so I doubled back I rode fast all around the inside lip.
I listened to the water, looked at the palms and the strange art that no one likes but pays tribute to a story I love...
I looked at the park for the trees and the fact that there actually IS grass there...
The Biltmore,The Oviatt, Bandini, The Dahlia...ghosts and gods of architecture...
I cut across and down the ramp at breakneck speed...I raced home, looking around me...repeating and repeating..."you pretty, pretty town"...."

Yes, it really was that rhapsodic.

Thursday...
More fun,more meetings , more typing...
Got to host the Miss Downtown L.A. pageant ..that was pretty fun..people were too drunk and I in my production mode sure do "get on the headset" when I feel like something isn't being handled well or people aren't "safe" to do their job..
Got to see Dale Youngman drunk off her ass as she barged down the staircase during the pageant, yes, we know I don't like her but it is a little sad to see someone her age continually such a trainwreck in public. It's sort of like seeing your mom drunk at a little league game...
Really looking forward to the show next week though
The guys are really cool and definitely have vision...
now , just a little structure and we are set.

Friday:Nothing worth writing about....slept in, typed alot...ate my favorite turkey soup from Ray's...went home, slept more...after all the meetings and running around this week I needed a recharge.
Today we have the Fante tour, then Kim and Richard are taking me to a fun party in Brentwood.
free food and classy people...can't wait.

All in all it was a good week...hoping the next week will be even better.
See you next Saturday for another Week:Observed....

The Return of the Rolled Eye Jedi

Charming Friends and Captive Audience-

After a year of absence from the Downtown L.A. scene ( apparently larceny ain't so grand)
My "augmented ego" Bella Beretta is returning below the Alvarado Belt.
The "sassy lassy with the vavoom chassis" makes her debut tonight as co-host of

The Miss Downtown L.A. Pageant.

Last week art star Emmeric manned ( any my what a man!) the mic alone...
However as the contest has grown in infamy,
it was determined it was time to bring out the big guns for reinforcement....
The Big Beretta to be precise
So I will be there in Ostrich feathers and rhinestones galore to be the girl friday
to Emmerics naughty antics...( does he have any other kind?)
@
Broadway Bar
830 S. Broadway
LA,CA 90014
Signups to compete for the title are from 9-11
and the contest starts @ 11 SHARP!
Please bring $$ for donations
All proceed generated by the contest will
be going to LA Animal Services

Ladies!!!
This is a grand contest and after tonight there will
be 2 more nights ( next Thursday @ Bar 107, the following @ La Cita)
for you to come compete
for the coveted title of Miss Downtown L.A....
for more details please check out:

http://www.myspace.com/downindowntown

So get in your pageant best,vaseline those teeth and
practice your wave ("elbow-elbow-wrist-wrist-wrist")
And we'll see you @ The Broadway Bar!

XOXO-
Miss Bella B.
"What good is being famous, if it's not Infamous."
www.theinfamousmissberetta.com

Nobody Reads In L.A.

I am quite proud of this....when things are right.
they are RIGHT.
Oh- and for 5 minutes, I am allowed to run around
and yell about my awesomeness, then return to my regularly scheduled self-snarking .






Here's our reminder:

A quick note to remind you we are meeting weds. night at lost souls
to discuss John Fante's "Ask The Dust",

http://nobodyreadsinla.com/askthedust

I hope you can attend. We will discuss the prologue to the book,
published separately in the collection, "The Big Hunger", and also
some novels of the same era, which touch on the same milieu which
Fante evokes- Bunker Hill/Pershing Square as a vibrant and populated
neighborhood.

We also will also have a short walking tour of Pershing Square as
well at the end.

crack that spine-



Nobody Reads In L.A.: A book club for the nightclub set.
http://www.nobodyreadsinla.com

On LA.COM

http://www.la.com/blog/7872677.html

"While many people in LA are more likely to book tables in clubs than join book clubs, the city is far from being an illiterate wasteland. LA has a rich literary history, and has acted as home to authors like Raymond Chandler, John Fante, Charles Bukowski and Upton Sinclair. So we wouldn't be surprised if new book club, Nobody Reads in LA becomes harder to get into than a Hollywood Club. Championed by Kim Cooper and Richard Schave (both of whom helm quirky tour bus company Esotouric) and Nico Bella (of Fleur de Lethal Productions), Nobody Reads in LA will offer a place for book lovers to mingle and discuss books involving LA culture. The first meeting (which takes place on June 13 at 7pm at Lost Souls Cafe), will focus on John Fante's novel Ask the Dust (the talk will be followed by a John Fante walking tour of Downtown LA.) Future meetings will focus on Raymond Chandler's The Little Sister, James M. Cain's Mildred Pierce, Charles Bukowski's Post Office and Reyner Banham's The Architecture of Four Ecologies. For those who need a copy of the book, Metropolis Books is offering a 10% discount on copies of Ask the Dust for customers who say they're "a friend of Bandini's."

From The Downtown News

http://www.downtownnews.com/articles/2007/06/11/entertainment/entertainment05.txt

Eager Readers: Earlier this year, the aforementioned 1947project.com crew visited a Black Dahlia-themed art show in the Old Bank District's Regent Theater space curated by Nico Bella. As is wont to happen among local noir-ists, more events were spawned. One of them is the Nobody Reads in L.A. book club, launched by Bella and Richard Schave, Cooper's husband.

Open to anyone, the club's first meeting is June 13 at Lost Souls Cafe. The reading selection is Ask the Dust; purchase it from Main Street's Metropolis and receive a 10% discount.
Lost Souls is at 124 W. Fourth St., nobodyreadsinla.com.



From latimes.com

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy/2007/06/raising_las_lit.html

Raising L.A.'s literary profile

The Esotouric bus tours of literary L.A. have received an item in this column before, and now there’s another effort to build and maintain the visibility of L.A.’s literary heritage by an organization calling itself Nobody Reads in LA.

Construction continues to change downtown Los Angeles--old buildings are turning into swanky lofts that are intended to attract fresh professionals to live in the area. But what about perceptions of the city’s cultural life? Who is taking care of that? According to the website, Nobody Reads in LA is a "loose-knit group of individuals striving to create a stronger cultural, literary and historical sense of downtown Los Angeles. . . . Behind our efforts--which extend far beyond that of a traditional book club--is the desire to examine downtown as one of the two poles, along with Hollywood, whose gravitational pull traces L.A.’s eccentric orbit."

In the book industry, Los Angeles has long been criticized as lacking a center: Publishers frequently complain that it’s more difficult plotting effective author tours here than, say, in San Francisco or Manhattan--nothing in this city, they say, presents itself as an obvious literary hub. If Nobody Reads in LA succeeds, perhaps such a hub will be found at Lost Souls Café in downtown L.A., where the group will meet. Discussions are being planned on books that have contributed to the various images--noir capital, land of lost souls and desperate people--hanging over the city: Raymond Chandler, James M. Cain, Charles Bukowski and Reyner Banham. Directions, times and specifics can all be found at its website.

The club’s first meeting will take place June 13 at the café and center on John Fante’s "Ask the Dust." Afterward, there will be a brief walking tour of places associated with the author. Who said that books and exercise don’t mix?

Nick Owchar

A Call For Assistance

Dear Friends--

After a lot of great meetings this week, it is now written in stone
that the gallery will open again in July.
galerie/usine has officially been renamed
5
5th street,5 senses,my sister's (my perma muse) birthdate,everything...it just felt right when I said it out loud.
Thus 5 was born.
We will reopen for art walk in July with a reinstalled
"Home Is Where You Hang Your Head..." and having another "Dirty Laundry" party

I also have launched
Fleur De Lethal Productions
A production company dedicated to creating affordable, community centered events below Alvarado.
I have a whole slew of events on the calendar including
-The Ballroom Blitz: a shopping bazaar/yard sale @ The Alex( under a tiffany glass ceiling!!!)

-The Million Dollar Drive-In in parking lots and fun locations around downtown...locations TBA this week....
July : Rebel Without a Cause
August: 68 Comeback/Viva Las Vegas
Sept: Plan 9 from Outer Space/The Blob

-The new book club Nobody Reads in L.A. http://www.nobodyreadsinla.com.
sign up NOW!
We are going to be embarking on a publishing endeavor in the new year.

-The Lost Weekend: Charles Bukowski featuring the exhibit
---Buk On The Nickel @ 5,
---Esotouric's http://www.esotouric.com Charles Bukowski tour
---an 87th birthday gala and art event @ The Alexandria
---Screenings of "Barfly" and "Born Into This" @ Charlie O's

- 3 film galas featuring Gentlemen Prefer Blondes ,Blade Runner, and L.A. Confidential
in theatres and special locations on Broadway...this is REALLY exciting.

- The launch of 4 new monthly burlesque shows in various locations around downtown including The Redwood, La Cita and MORE! First thing first though - Treasure Chest Burlesque!

-The re-launch of The Deux Abeilles Theatre Company in the late fall....Death Be Damned...Midsummer Will Rise AGAIN!

However, in taking this big step to keep the world entertained and educated I am finding myself in
need of a lot of assistance in the human and financial form.
So if you are interested in getting involved in making this city a seriously fun place to be please contact me @
royalpain@fleurdelethal.com
or leave a message
@ 213.325.0907
If you cannot volunteer but wish to show support please make a donation to
Fleur De Lethal via pay pal or in person.
No amount is too small, everything helps.
I am out to raise 3 grand in the next 4 months to be able to take on all of this and do it well
All donors will be included in the sponsor list and featured in all printed materials.

Any donation over 100.00 secures you VIP passes to all events for the summer.
Anything over that and man..you can have one of my cats...or a pinky finger or something..
I am out to, along with my friends create a truly fun and exciting furry of activity in this city that I so truly love....
This project is my love letter....
Thank You for all the support dear friends. This is only the beginning I hope you come along for the adventure.
Click on the button to go to pay pal

Thank You Dear Ones...now let's have some fun.
XOXO-
Nico Bella

Coming This Wendsday to Lost Souls Cafe

The Premiere of
Nobody Reads In L.A.









we will be there @ 6:30 to get settled in...discussion begins @ 7pm SHARP ( we only have an hour!)
Here is Richard's post with the URL's and info:

As our first "book club" date nears,

http://nobodyreadsinla.com/askthedust

our local bookstore, Metropolis is offering a discount on the
featured book,

http://nobodyreadsinla.dumplingjoint.com/metropolis-askthedust

The shop is just down the street from the cafe which is hosting the
event, and we hope you can help support them as well as attend this
event.

We will conclude the event with a walking tour of Pershing Square and
perhaps even a short foray over to Belmont tunnel,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belmont_Tunnel_/_Toluca_Substation_and_Yard

http://www.flickr.com/groups/belmonttunnel/

crack that spine,

Richard


What He Said,
Nico

so it unfolds....

here...
today is the first of an all new
infamy..